Geneva Area City Schools Board Meeting - 4/22/26

001The Geneva Area City School District Board of Education. Roll call, please. Oh, look at that. Got a new system here. Mrs. Craig, >> here. >> Mrs. Syosski, >> here. >> Mr. Beerson >> here. >> Mr. Andress >> here. >> And Mr. Cooper >> here. >> Certification by treasurer of compliance with meeting requirement rules. Are we in compliance? >> We are. This meeting is a meeting of the board of education in public for the purpose of conducting the school district's business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is a time for public participation during the meeting as indicated in the agenda. Please stand if you're able for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

002one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we need to wave the reading and approval of the minutes. I need a motion, please. >> So, motion. >> Second. Roll call. Just really quick, I want you to see that there are two versions of the minutes. So, you guys, the board can look at those. One is the old minute way and one is the new minute way. Um, so if you can let me know, you know, what your thoughts are. Not that I didn't mind doing both of them, but you know, It'd be easier just to do one going forward, but I just wanted to give you the options. Um, let me go here. Uh, Mrs. Craig, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cyolski, >> yes. >> Mr. Pearson, >> yes. >> Mr. Andress,

003yes. >> And Mr. Cooper, >> yes. >> All right, it's time for our student recognition this month. >> All right, good evening everyone, and thank you for being here. Uh this is our April student recognition and then we'll go into our staff recognition. Just so you know, this is our final meeting um our final student recognition. Um and then next month we're going to do a lot of um staff awards and some fun things then. But uh thank you students for being here and parents. Um the first one is Austinberg. These are awesome. Austinberg Eagle award. It's given to students who demonstrate kindness, work hard in and out of the classroom every day, have a positive attitude, and exceed expectations in all that they do. So, when you hear your name, please come up and

004get your certificate. Emerson Henderson, come on down. Congratulations, Essence King. Come on down, Essence. Matteo Martineelli. Matteo, Tenley Steinbrink, come on down. And Oliver Winthro, congratulations. I didn't take it this time. All right. So, now we have Cork. We have two students. Uh, a uh let's go with Taylor Blevens. Come on down, Taylor. So, Taylor has earned honor role through her consistent hard work in classroom. She is active particip participant who always strives to do her best. She is respectful and kind to both her peers and teachers. She is also the vice president of student council. her strong work ethic and caring attitude um makes her a role model for her peers. So again, congratulations, Taylor. Nice job. And then we have Avery Mcronone. Avery, nice job, Avery. Avery constantly demonstrates a strong commitment to

005her learning by actively participating in class, giving her best effort in all that she does. She has earned honor role and is a member of the student council. Beyond her academic achievements, she stands out for her kindness and positive attitude toward her classmates. She's always willing to lend a helping hand, support others, and is a role model for her peers. So again, congratulations, Avery. All right, we're on to GPS. Uh, these students, so I'm going to tell you a little bit about the students and then we'll call them down. These students assist in the uh kindergarten bus dismissal on a daily basis. They play an important role in keeping the process calm, safe and organized to help their uh help the students guide them to offer a reassurance, help students feel secure. They model responsibility,

006kindness, and teamwork for their the entire school community. So, uh these students do that and we really appreciate you helping out. So, the first one is uh Tegan Blendman. Come on down. All right. Emma Ferguson and Allison Pillar. All right. Apparently, they couldn't be with us. We'll make sure they get those awards. So, thank you. And now, our middle school students. Um, we're going to start and then we'll talk a little bit about each one of them. So, Paige Burns. Paige, are you here? Okay, there it is. Paige Burns. So, Paige earned straight A's third quarter. So, congratulations, Paige. Eric, Yep, it's a good one. Ariana Kagnady. No. Well, she demonstrated resilience and academic improvement. Then we have Jason Dodge. Jason, are you here? No. But Jason did. Yep. Jason's made significant gains academically this

007quarter. Isabella Elk. All right. Isabella, straight A's third quarter. That's amazing. Well done. And then Bentley Palco. Uh he's always kind, respectful to others, exhibits all characterist characteristics of a Geneva Eagle. So congratulations All right. And finally for our students, the high school. Uh these students gave hours of their own time to assist the Astabbula Growth Partnership in developing career planning and exploration survey that will be used countywide this coming school year, helping all students access the information they need to define their career path. So this is excellent. So Kora Brace, are you here? Kora. All right, Chase Sino. Chase, uh, Darien Franklin, Izzy Hoover, Gianna Marajan. All right, Gianna's here. Logan Rustic and Ben York. And finally for staff, our Eagle team member of the month, we have Austin Berg, Jennifer Nappy, third grade.

008I don't think she could be with us today. So, Miss Nappy is absolutely amazing with the kids. She keeps them in line, guides them to be respectful, and pushes them to learn more without being mean about it and or pressuring them. So, congratulations, Jennifer. And then we have Sally Burgett, our health aid from Cork. All right, Sally is amazing. She's always running around helping everyone. She makes sure all the kiddos have what they need and they all feel comfortable coming to her for help. She is just an awesome human being. We are so lucky to have her at Cork. So, congratulations. Uh GPS Michelle Rhodess, third grade teacher. Michelle, Miss Rhodess provides high quality individualized instruction with a positive attitude. We appreciate her dedication to our students. And then Michelle Mather, choir here at the

009middle school and high school. Michelle goes above and beyond for her students every single day. She travels between two schools, which we know can be challenging. Uh she works tirelessly to ensure her students are supported and successful. She consistently gives up her weekend so students can participate in competitions, concerts, and special events. So, excellent job. And this one, uh, Mark Miller, our substitute, couldn't be here, but he said he'll watch it on TV. So, congratulations, Mark. We're really happy for you, Mark Miller. He's been subbing for us for 25 years. He's probably the most the kindest, friendliest man in the world. Um, he's not a full-time member. Uh, he's not a full-time teacher, but he is a full-time substitute. He's here every day. He's an integral part of the student experience. He really does go

010above and beyond his duties. He listens to people. He has a source of support, encouragement for our students. And every time I see him as I'm walking, he couldn't be any happier. Um, so, uh, Mark, I know you're watching, you do an amazing job. You said you didn't deserve it, but you absolutely 100% deserve it. So, congratulations, Mark. and uh for our transportation main office board of ed and Jennifer Crosley, our athletic director. Come on down. Now, Jen is incred I got some stuff to say about Jen, so you got to give me some time here. She's incredibly dedicated to our student athletes at Geneva High School, and that is so true. Not only is she an excellent athletic director, she also committed to creating an environment that promotes pride in our athletics and community.

011from the dugouts to the baseball softball fields to the wall pads in the gym to the painted hallways. When have Jen, we want to thank Jen for all of them. Her most recent project, and you could see it if you walk out here and just look down the hall, an overhaul of the athletic hallways with paint, signage, pictures honoring our state champions required an unbelievable amount of commitment and time. She did a lot of that work with a lot of help, but she's always been there to do it. From securing the paint and supplies to volunteering countless hours painting, Jen took on what seemed to be like an in insurmountable task and saw this project through and its completion. The result is transformative, creating an environment that truly reflects Geneva Eagle spirit. Our athletes, coaches,

012and communities are incredibly lucky to have you, Jen, and I I do appreciate what you do for the school. So, thank you, Jen. That's all of our awards. So, um you can stay for the rest if you like, but if you want to leave at this time, please do so. But thank you for being here. At this point of the meeting, it is time for the public comment section. If you would like to address the board, you may come to the microphone at this time. Please state your name and address and you'll have five minutes to speak. You may do so now if you would like to. >> Hi Brad. >> Good evening everybody. I'm Brad Mcichael uh 130 Meadow Ridge Drive, Geneva, Ohio. I'm a parent uh city council member but I also am

013the president of the newly formed Geneva Schools Foundation. Um it's a new organization came to the idea from Dr. Lombardo. The whole mission of the Geneva schools foundation is to provide uh assistance to everyone in the district, all the schools, the students for the big lift items that maybe gambler can't take care of. Athletic boosters. We're a 501c3 organization. We are brand new. Uh we have a Facebook page that's going to be coming online on this we're working on this Sunday. We got a web page coming up. We just approved our logo and our our emblem that we have. So, but the reason I'm coming here tonight for you folks is that on May 9th in this auditorium, there's going to be an amazing magic show being put on by Magic Gives Back. It's a

014Las Vegas style magic show. The funds that we're raising from this are going to help the foundation get us up up off the ground. This has been spearheaded by my treasurer Christine Hansen. She's right here and I brought her up too. So if he has anything else, um, so is going to be at >> It's Kirsten. >> Kirsten Kirsten. >> Kirsten, I apologize. >> Thank you. >> She takes a little bit of pride in it, but don't don't be >> Well, that's how it's fac. >> Yeah. >> I apologize for everyone there. >> Violence, Brad, and I'm trying to >> Kristen Kristen Hansen. Anyways, it's going to be May 9th at 7 PM in here. Uh, the kids from the schools have been given flyers. We've gone home. It's on our Facebook page for the

015school, the web page. So, you got anything else you'd like to add, Kristen? >> Okay. Well, thank you for your time. Thank you. >> Thank you for your time. >> Thank you, Bren. You will. >> Thank you. Hi, my name is Diane Brain. I live at 825 Sherman Street and I have two topics to bring up tonight. Um, the first one I just I was here I think last fall possibly to bring to your attention the vegetation that was growing out of the gutters at the school next to me. And um I appreciate how quickly you moved on that. That was awesome. And I guess in that vein, I just wondered if there is now a regular scheduled maintenance or scheduled maintenance in plan or on on the plans for that. >> Yes, absolutely. So,

016um that was very embarrassing um when you came up, but uh it's something that needed to be said. So, we are putting uh there was a lot of stuff in there as you can imagine, >> but we are going to put it on a rotation and we're going to do that throughout the summer. So, >> as well as other schools too. >> Yes, we did all we did all the schools. Great. So, all of them should be uh no vegetation should be growing at any of the schools. >> Good. Okay. Secondly, um speaking of vegetation and things growing, um I left a message with Amy Richmond on the 10th of April regarding a tree between the school's property and mine. And yes, I wasn't sure if it was my tree or the school's tree. So,

017I had the surveyor come out and it is the school's tree and it's very rotted at the bottom. So, I didn't know I didn't hear hear back from anybody yet. So, I didn't know if anything was being looked into about that. >> Yes. So, I did talk to Scott Ola, our maintenance uh director, and he assured me that we will take care of that. >> Okay, great. >> But if it it hasn't been taken care, it's still there. Huh. >> It's still there. Yeah. >> Okay. I I know it's supposed to come out by summer, but I will check to see if we can >> That's fine. >> If we can get that taken care. >> I just to know if if it was being looked into. >> Yeah, it's actually on our schedule. >>

018Okay, great. Okay, thank you for call. That's all I need. You're welcome. >> Thank you. Thank you so much. >> You're welcome. >> Anyone else? All right. I think it's time for the presentation for the trip. Oh, hi. Um, so all three of us were on the New York trip and we just wanted to share some like cool things that happened. Um, this was actually my senior trip, so and I got to do it freshman year as well and it was similar in some aspects but also va vastly different in others. I had a much um like much more fun of a time this year because I was much closer with all of these people cuz I knew them and uh I made a whole bunch of new friends on the trip. Uh so many

019memories that you can never like make anywhere else and we were all of us got really close on the trip. I remember hearing a few people when we got back to the school saying they didn't want to go home. Like we wanted to just have fun again and we were like telling jokes and uh yeah, we just had a lot of lot of fun. So I just wanted to thank you for letting us go on this trip and it was a very fun senior year trip for me. >> Again, I'd like to thank you guys, the board of ed education for letting us go on this trip. When I went on this trip, I was very scared and anxious. But those people around me that came on the trip helped me realize that while I

020was away from home, I was still safe and I was still comfortable. And it made me realize that I had family away from home. Those who were around me were my family. And my favorite part about the trip was getting to see stuff I never thought I'd be able to see, like the Statue of Liberty, which was one of the top things that I've wanted to see ever since I was little. And I'd like to thank you guys for the opportunity of letting me see it. >> I wanted to thank you guys so much for letting us go on this trip. I really feel like it benefited our choir with growing. Like Jay said, I also feel like it just helped us see so many more opportunities in life. So like we didn't see everything

021in our little town of Geneva. We got to see the real world and we got to develop a bit of leadership without our parents and just be able to be our own selves. And I feel like it just genuinely like benefited like our students and all that. And I just want to say thank you guys so much. >> All right. Time for the report of the superintendent. Dr. Lombardo. >> All right. Uh the first thing is 7.1 first reading of board policy 7530.03 cellular phone allowance. Um I'm bringing this forward to the board. Uh no action is needed tonight, but it is a first reading. Um in most districts, if not all districts, there is some kind of cell phone telephone allowance for administration. Uh I'd like to be able to bring this forward to

022our administrators. Um most of our communication if not all of our communication is done on the phone. I will say our uh administrators are extremely good that when I call or when someone else needs them they do pick up the phone and that is a 247 time. Now we try to be very respectful of people's time but if there's an emergency or if someone needs to discuss things we're always always sending text messages. It's a huge communication piece and I just think it should be part of a a stipen for administrators um going into next year. So this is the first reading and I would like us to consider it and our next reading will be in May which will be the final reading. All right, any questions on that? No. Okay. Uh 7.2 are

023board policies. Uh this is our second reading of all these board policies. I do want to make note uh Brock, you brought up one of the policies and it is revised on here. Just want to make sure. >> Which one is it? >> 5430. >> There it is. Revised. We were talking about class rank. There was a typo and I just want to show it to you there. A non-weed grades. We took that out. Um, we didn't think that that actually was a typo. So, this policy is now up to date. Uh, all the other policies, including the AI policy, food service, transportation, uh, those are all um ready for a final vote tonight unless you have questions. >> This is the second reading or this is the final? >> This is the second and

024final reading. Yeah. Could I start with a motion, please? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Is there any discussion or questions about any of these policies? >> Can you imagine how funny it would be if it was not weighted? >> Yes. >> No, it wouldn't be funny. >> I should have did it. I should have did it to all you guys. I was like, they don't want weighted, right? And like I almost got punched in the face. They were like, no, the kids want weighted. I'm like, all right, cool. >> Yeah, that was not good. >> So, have a field day. Just be nice. >> Do do we know that uh the people that calculate the the scores do do they want them? Have we have we let them chime in? >> Um what do

025you do? You mean the students, >> the the academics that are our counselors and and so on so forth who have to figure out >> the rankings of our of our kids. They've been creating committee. >> Yeah. So, this this was uh reviewed and Jen, do you want to talk a little bit about that? >> I met with the guidance counselors and the principles at the high school and we reviewed this policy and um it should have been I don't know why I should not have been there. So, we discuss that if we were to not wait those grades then the whole point of this >> can you come to the mic because I will hear you. Thank you. >> For the record. >> Yeah. So the whole point of this particular policy is to

026um ensure if there's a tie for the top 10% that get the top top 5% that get the scholarship for the governor's merit scholarship that if there was a tie then we would use those things scores on standardized test to break the tie. So if we were to use non-weed grades that would actually make it worse. We'd probably have more of a more people involved in the tiebreaker. So, that was a typo. >> And that was consensus. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. >> Any other questions? >> All right. Roll call. >> Mrs. Sibilowski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Pearson? Yes. >> Mr. Andress? Yes. >> Mr. Cooper? Yes. >> And Mrs. Craig? >> Yes. >> All right. 7.3. Choir trip to Disney 2027. >> I'll wait for you to do your motion. I'm always mess

027up. >> That's all right. Can I have a motion, please? >> So move. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Dr. Lombber. >> All right. Mrs. Mather, do you want to come and talk about this at all? Um, I mean, I was it was uh this is a great proposal. I think it's uh I think it's wonderful for kids to have the opportunity to go to Disney for 2027. Was very well laid out. Um I know board get a chance to look at it, but I I I strongly uh recommend this uh this field trip. Sounds awesome. There you go. >> Any discussion? Any questions about the trip? >> Yeah, I not not any questions. I just want to say when you're preparing for something like this, I know a lot of people their first instinct is

028to say, "Hey, you're going to Disney World." Um, but the anxiety at least from a band perspective and not a vocalist who has a super highdefinition amplifying device in front of their head at all times or dancing to choreography is extremely stressful. And for people that are going on to pursue music, whether you're going to be operating a soundboard or or you're going to be performing, these are really cool ways to get used to performing in front of a lot of people. But there is a lot of preparation that is absolutely rooted in learning and and teamwork and co-curricular. So, thank you guys for keeping this this ball rolling. Since the 80s, Geneva has sent whether it's Geneva's image uh chamber choir, choir at large, individual competing um uh musicians and members of the band.

029So, it's pretty cool that we consistently rank when we do compete. And in others, we're invited a lot of the time to be able to perform. and for the people that had these music programs. There's not a lot of schools in in Ashra County that even get that opportunity. So, thank you guys very much for making that possible. >> Any other questions or discussion? I think the three students who just spoke >> are a testament to how important getting our students >> exposure to what she we do live in the real world here but it's different when you go to New York City or Disney. Um and I think that these are uh while fun so educational and so important in the development of our students and uh it's a great opportunity. All right. Roll

030call, please. >> Mr. Pearson, >> yes. >> Mr. Andress, >> yes. >> Mr. Cooper, yes. >> Mrs. Craig, >> yes. >> Mrs. Sibilski, >> yes. >> All right. 7.5 202526 early graduation. >> 7.4. >> Is that Oh my gosh. So 7.4, excuse me. Austinberg Elementary to Ary Zoo. This sounds like a really fun time. So moved. >> I'll second. >> You want to say anything about your field trip or >> second grade? >> So second grade the last five years. Um they love the zoo. >> So there'll be no cost to the families. That's wonderful. >> Excellent. Wonderful. Do we have any trips planned for the other second graders in the district? >> So, they have been doing other trips, but because this is out of state, technically, we had to put it in front

031of >> Got it. Okay. >> We've had other field trips that haven't. >> Okay. >> So, that's a there's other field trips that have been approved by the board. No one's going to hear you. So, I just say that approved by the board, but this one because it's an out ofstate trip, it needed to be brought here to the board. Awesome. All right. Any other question? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Andress? Yes. >> Mr. Cooper? Yes. >> Mrs. Craig? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Cyolski? Yes. >> And Mr. Pearson? >> Yes. >> Yeah. 7.5 early graduation. >> Need a motion, please. >> So move. >> Second. Is she going? >> Any discussion? >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Cooper, yes. >> Mrs. Craig, yes. >> Mrs. Syolski, yes. >> Mr. Pearson, yep. And Mr.

032Andress, >> yes. >> Uh, 7.6, a resolution to implement a reduction in force and of administrative employee Need a motion, please. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Was there a second? >> Did you second? >> I seconded. >> Oh, sorry. >> Oh, yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um as we as we look at staffing for the year, we are making some reductions throughout our whole district with staffing. The idea is to transfer um the support to the buildings. So although we're eliminating uh an administrative position, we have added one Adena students which I highly recommend and we're going to be placing that person at GPS to give more support to GPS. But we're we're moving our resources um around and this is a resolution to reduce one position. So it allowed us to open

033up another position. >> Any questions or discussion on this? >> All right. Roll call. >> Mrs. Craig. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sibilowski? Yes. >> Mr. Pearson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Andress? Yes. >> Mr. Cooper? >> Yes. All right. 7.7. These are administrative contracts uh for two years. >> I need a motion, please. >> So moved. >> All second. >> Discussion. >> Um I believe some of them should be three-year contracts. So can we explain why some of them are? >> Yeah. So, um, being that it's my first year here, I I wanted to, I'll be honest, I've only been here a year, so I wanted to at least have a little more time to really get to know the administrators. I felt they all deserve multiple contracts. Uh, so I felt by giving them all

034two years, that will give them multiple contract years, but all we as well as give me time to really get to know them as we move into the second year. So that was my rationale. >> Does that does that put everybody's contract up the same year? Like your guys is also >> Yes, that's true. Mine will be up in two years as well. Yes. >> Jen's will be up in two years. >> So all of our administrators will be up at the same time. >> No, we have other administrators that are still within um this isn't all our administrators. We have others that um that are in the middle of their administrative years. >> That would be Mr. Chennowith Karen. >> Yeah. Chennith. >> Mrs. Karnett. >> Mrs. Carnett. Karen. >> Um >> Jen. >>

035Uh Wilson. Mariah Wilson. Uh, we have Kathy, we have Scott, we have uh Jared. They're all within there. >> They'll all be be staggered. >> They'll be staggered. Yes. >> Any other questions or discussions? >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Syowski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Pearson? >> Yes. >> Mr. Andress? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cooper? >> Yes. >> And Mrs. Craig? >> Yes. >> All right. 7.8. School resource officer a memorandum of understanding. >> I need a motion please. >> I move >> second discussion. >> Yeah. So by law we have to have aou with our uh with our police department. I've been working with Chief Camper on this all year. Um and so this is an updatedou. Uh what's a little different about this one? This allows us to hire more than

036one SRO. I will be recommending an additional SRO next year um to help um Spencer, although Spencer doesn't need help. He's he's he does a great job, but um I think having two SRO's um would be great for our district. This allows us to do this. Of course, the board would have to approve that at a particular time, but um everything in thisou is appropriate. I'd like to add real quick for the record that I was here for six years and there wasn't even a talk of an additional SRO. So, but I will tell you Spencer is absolutely the busiest guy on our police department and he definitely needs I'd like an SRO in every building, but unfortunately we can't we can't finance that. Um, and I'll stop there. Thank you, Spencer. I know you

037do wonderful job. All right. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Pearson, yes. >> Mr. Andress, yes. >> Mr. Cooper, >> yes. >> Mrs. Craig, >> yes. >> Mrs. Syowski, >> yes. >> All right. 7.9. Tenative agreement with GATA effective July 1st, 2026 through July 1st, 2029. This agreement was ratified by GATA membership on April 16th, 2026. >> Need a motion, please. So move >> second >> discussion. >> All right. Well, I uh Rachel, are you here? Do you want to come on up? >> Uh Rachel, uh vice president of GATA. Zach said he wasn't able to make it. He's our president. I do want to say we we did have five half days or two and a half days. We talked a lot about language. We really um I felt it was so collaborative and

038I do appreciate Rachel, Zach, and the team. um for having open and honest conversations. Um I think we made a lot of progress and I'm very satisfied um with the three-year contract. So, I want to thank you, Rachel, for everything. >> Yeah, same. I think um we'd really like to thank the board and the members who were present. Um it was very nice to see members of the board rotating in and being part of that conversation. I think that was very very helpful to us. Um this was a very different vibe than the last time we negotiated a contract and we appreciated that tremendously. You know, obviously we didn't get everything we wanted. you guys didn't get everything you wanted. That's the way negotiations work. But we did very much feel like you were listening

039to our concerns and you you addressed them the best that you could under the circumstances and I think both sides walked out kind of as happy as we could be under the circumstances. So again, we we appreciate the effort that you guys put into this. Um we got it done before we typically even open the contract up. So we were able to we invested a lot of hours, but we were able to get it done pretty quickly. Um and I think landed where we needed to be on both sides. So thank you. >> No, thank you. I appreciate it. I would like to add that it absolutely killed me that I could not be one of the board members to sit in on all of those talks. But seeing as I am actually a member

040of OEA in another association legally I was not allowed to be even in the room as part as listening to those. And after being a part of the I shouldn't say a part of after seeing the mayhem of the last negotiation and fighting for the board to be a part of that negotiation and being told over and over again how inappropriate it would be to have board members sitting in and listening to that conversation and fighting for that for GATA. It was just so lovely to see all of that come together even if I couldn't be in there and hear it. So, it's really nice to see how all of that came together. So, yay. But, all right. Roll call. >> Mr. Andress? >> Yes. >> Mr. Cooper? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Craig? >> Yes.

041>> Mrs. Syolski? Yes. >> And Mr. Pearson? >> Abstain. My mom's a union member. >> All right. 710 7.10. a resolution selecting CT Taylor Company Incorporated as the best value construction manager at risk for the uh athletic improvement project and authorizing negotiations of ex execution of an agreement for preconstruction services. So this is an agreement for just preconstruction services prior to authorizing um uh an agreement uh after that. So >> need a motion please. So moved. >> Second. >> So, uh, Mr. Taylor, did you want to come up and say a couple words? Sure. >> Uh, you're not Mr. Taylor, you're from CTO. John Hitchcock from CTO. and I apolog for almost 50 years. Probably the last 25 of those. We've had a heavy specialty in school construction, about 140 projects throughout Northeast Ohio. I

042think we're one of the largest school builders in the area. So, got a fair amount of recent experience with turf fields and tracks and athletic facilities. So, this is kind of right up our alley and we're looking forward to it. >> Excellent. I I want to make note that um you guys did Bir Bure, right? Bure. >> We did Bergkshire >> and uh we did go out and visit Bergkshire when we were looking at athletic stadiums and they did a really really nice job and and you did do three of our elementary buildings here, correct? We did that was 20 years ago maybe >> in that range. So, >> but yeah, we're familiar with the territory. >> Excellent. >> We are looking forward to it. >> So, any any questions of me? >> How how

043fast can we get her done? That's the question. Well, we need uh probably a set of drawings that we can work from, but we've worked with Ryan at TDA many times in the past and uh you plenty of projects with TDA, so we we know the drill with them and good firm to work with. >> Excellent. >> Is our hope of 2027 realistic? >> Yes. >> Okay, perfect. Yeah, I think you guys put down as June 2027, you know, pending. >> Yeah, that was, you know, part of the RFP process that uh the date. So, I mean that we probably do need, you know, to move along and getting some agreed plans and descriptions and specifications. And we'll get those items, the stands, the turf, the track, all purchased. by the time slots those those

044guys get pretty busy in the spring of, you know, the year before the football season. So, we need to lock them up right away. >> Excellent. >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> All right. Roll call. >> Mr. Cooper? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Craig? Yes. >> Mrs. Sibilski? >> Yes. >> Mr. Pearson? Yes. >> And Mr. Andress? >> Yes. >> Okay. Okay, we're going to take section 8 al together and then I'm happy to answer any questions. So, this is contracts 8.1 through uh 8.6. There are multiple contracts there. Um, and once you get the motion, I'm happy to talk on any of them if you'd like me to. >> Okay, I need a motion, please. So, >> move second. Okay, I'm just going to go down the list and and

045just give you a little bit of overview. And if you want me to elaborate, I can. Uh the first one's an electric program agreement. This is from Ohio school council. Um and that has to do with our electric. Um and they go out and they get the best bids for us. Uh 8.2 is a resolution to adopt NIST cyber security framework. Uh this is a framework and the law says that we have to have a framework board approved in place by July 1st of 26. I'm asking for this to be done tonight. Um this is through House Bill 96. And we do have a a company that Jared will be working with. Um it's a year project. They give you baseline data on your cyber on cyber security. Uh they provide resources and it's a

046really nice program. We have about five or six districts in the Ashula County area that's going to be working through that. Um the other one NFHS school broadcast program. This is free but we had to do another uh program with them or signing a contract with them. They do our um this is our videotaping and our live streaming for our events. Uh 8.4 is our Toshiba contract. That's our printer service. Um, so we are doing something different with our copying or printing for next year. Um, we're going to be moving the printing to our buildings. We went out for an RFQ on our printer and found that we were using uh Xerox for many, many years, like 25 years. Through an RFQ, we were able to um find Toshiba, which was a lot cheaper. Um,

047very good company. They have great copers or printers they call them nowadays. Um, so we're going to be saving up to uh possibly $3,000 a month through our new contract with Toshiba. And um, we're going to be providing each building 275 copies per minute. And that's going to be black and white and color. So every building will have two of those. Um, so we're able to provide more support into the building for those copers. And it should save us upwards of about $3,000 a month. So, we're real happy we're able to save some money with this program. Ken State CCP contract. That's a standard contract we need to sign with all the colleges we work with. And this one's exciting. Youth opportunities unlimited. I don't want to steal Jen Chavy's thunder. So, do you want

048to come up and talk a little bit about that one? >> This is all Jen on this one. So, in my previous district, we worked with you youth opportunities unlimited, and we were able to hire students that are interested in IT to work with the IT department over the summer and get reimbursed for most of their um pay. So, the the students get paid $12 an hour and then they can work up to 120 hours over the summer. So they learn about IT work, how to do like software, how to do, you know, networking, all the things. Um, and so they get really good experience and they get paid pretty good for teenagers. And um, so we're going to be looking for one, um, junior or senior who is interested in it for the summer.

049Um, so any juniors and seniors out there, talk to the principal and let them know you're interested and then we'll hire you for over the summer to work with uh Jared Bard and learn about it. >> Awesome. That's fantastic. It's a great program. >> And those are all our contracts. >> Any questions or discussion? All right, roll call. >> Mrs. Craig, >> yes. >> Mrs. Syolski, >> yes. >> Mr. Pearson, >> yes. >> Mr. Andress, yes. >> And Mr. Cooper, >> yes. >> All right, this is number nine. We're going to take all these all the way down. Um, special assignments, temporary assignments. So, 9.1 through 9.8, volunteer coach. We're going to take all those. And you can see um the personnel items there. >> Right. I need a motion, please. >> Uh so move.

050>> I'll second. >> You uh I see the retirements are in this section also. >> Yes. Retirements, resignations. Yes. You >> like to say something about our retirement? I would appreciate that. Um well quite a few retirees here. Um Lori Fazio uh teacher um for 10 years of service and anyone knows Lori um she is just a she's just a very sweet lady and it's hard for her to do this but um uh she did put in her retirement. We do have our cafeteria manager here. 30 years of service which is amazing. 24 years for our special needs assistant Peggy and Mr. Sorber, a teacher that's been here 26 years. You can see the longevity of our staff and it's just nice to see that once people um start here in Geneva um they really

051want to stay here. So really happy and I wish them all a lot of luck as they move into the next venture of their life. So congratulations. >> I'd like to point out Peggy Sheps who's on this list too. She's a great great person. She's done um very young child care all the way up to um as one of our our aids now. So she's she'll be sorely missed also. >> Y to see the retirement of of Mary Kay. Hardy and Jennifer Warner with 64 years of service. >> Yeah, it's pretty amazing. >> I remember being in Mrs. Hardy's room in Geneva Elementary on the second floor with our brand new CRT monitor computers. >> Wow, it's crazy. >> And these non-renewals are are common, correct? >> Right. >> Yeah, that is something non-renewals. I

052did post a lot of those pos all of those positions actually or most of them and they have a an opportunity to bid on the the position but this is a common thing that they we non-renew those tutors at the end of the year >> and I really appreciate Nathan Pelinkus coming back home uh he's a great tennis player and I I love to see kids come back home and participate in the school. Thank you, Nathan. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Sibilski, >> yes. >> Mr. Pearson, >> yes. >> Mrs. Mr. Andress, yes. >> Mr. Cooper, >> yes. >> And Mrs. Craig, >> yes. >> Okay. We're going to take 10 all of these down. These are um 2627 uh continuing contract 5-year contracts. That's 10.2 10.3 two-year contract certified one-year contract

05310.4 and then we have uh 10.5 retirements and resignations there. And this is something we commonly do with the contracts in April. Need a motion, please. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Pearson. >> Yes. >> Mr. Andress. Yes. >> Mr. Cooper. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Craig. Yes. >> And Mrs. Syolski. >> Yes. >> All right. Unfortunately, you got to hear more from me. This is a superintendent report. >> And I think my uh senior students are here. We have our students advisory uh superintendent advisory council representatives. We have Zack Dunn, Sarah Sabolski, and Jovon Sanchez. Come on down and do your thing. do your thing. >> That should be fine. Um, hello. My name is Zachary Dunn. I'm a senior here at Geneva High School.

054And I wanted to give you a couple updates on some of the things that'll be uh happening in our district in the next couple of days. Oh, let me just There we go. Uh in my experience, I'm part of the theater program here at Geneva and this Friday we have our 1X uh check please which is all about uh I'm assuming everyone has gone at least on a first date before and has known how awkward it can be. Uh and that one act is all about how how a first date can go wrong in so many ways. And then the next one is about how to survive the zombie apocalypse in just 10 simple steps. So if you ever need to prepare for a doomsday event, make sure to attend. Um let's see what else.

055Uh we are also having our choir showcase this week as well. So if anyone would like to come and support Mrs. Mather and her kiddos, we would greatly appreciate it. Um, what else? >> Um, so we have prom coming up at high school, so that's in two weekends, so that's fun. Um, we have AP testing and state testing going on right now, so good luck to everyone. Those are some fun weeks, but you know, this is what we've been working towards the whole school year. Um, and then just to start off the sports updates, our boys tennis team just won all county, so good job to them. And tonight was senior night for the boys. So, I know I'm pretty sure they won. So, yeah. >> Hello. I'll be up here speaking over track. Uh

056we recently just uh had our senior night yesterday. Very emotional. It was very sad, but it was a really good feeling to see all my teammates all walk together on the field and really reminisce on all the good times we had. Um the track team is doing awesome this year and the boys won uh the Perry Relay race which was really impressive. And then um for our youth philanthropy program here at Geneva, I'm president of it and we just had our philanthropy lunchon and it went amazing. The club is just awesome and it really teaches young kids. I mean it taught all of us how to be uh philanthropists. So, thank you guys for everything. >> Thanks. Awesome. >> Girls who appeared second. >> Second. >> Yeah. >> Shout out to the softball team as

057well. They're having a great season. >> Everyone's doing great. So, >> we do though. >> Thank you guys. >> I'm gonna have you come up after a little while. Okay. Stay close. Thanks, guys. All right. Next, I want to talk about student pathways for 2627. Um, I got to tell a little story about this. So, um, back in capital conference, which is where board members do go down to Columbus and we learn a lot of great things that are happening with the state. I went with Beth as well as um, Stephen and we ended up going to a session. Um, it was Mayfield High School by Dr. Barnes, Dr. Michael Barnes about his student pathways. It was extremely exciting. Now, I was here August, September, October, so like three or four months. Um, and both

058Beth and Stephen said to me, and I know Michelle has been understanding what this is going, they go, "We got to do this." And I'm like, "Okay, well, been here a couple minutes, but I'm going to do my best to see what we can do to get this this going." Now, there were some uh high school people that went to see Mayfield the previous year, so people are kind of aware of some of the things that were going on. I was able to uh to get with Dr. Barnes and he had 12 of us. So, we had 12 from the high school go to Mayfield a full day to see their student pathways. And I will tell you, and I'm going to talk a little bit about two of them that um we'd like to

059try to see if we can pilot or start next year. Um it was an amazing experience. It allowed students to take ownership of their learning. It allowed students to um really be timely as far as putting their schedules together. It it was just an amazing I came out of there, you know, in education 31 years and I felt like a new person that I really was so excited about it and I know the 12 um members from the high school that went um were also excited because I could just tell we talked about just how how exciting it was. So I want to show you this um and there's two things we want to try to put in for next year. Now, I ran this by my superintendent student advisory committee today and I have

060three of them here and they're going to give you the student perspective because I always like to get the I usually tell them first before anyone. Now, don't be upset with me uh staff and everyone else, but I always end up getting with them first. They give me the student version and they give me a lot to talk about. So, they're going to talk a little bit about it. Then I talked with the high school staff today about it. Now I want to preface this by saying nothing is going to be a mandatory thing. This is all volunteer on the teacher side. Um but we want to take different steps to give students voice choice in their learning and giving them an opportunity. Um so I'm really excited about this. First one is called fly.

061You get that? You know the eagle and the fly. That's that's what we came up with. Flexible learning for you. It's personalized learning option. Now, it says juniors and seniors, but I told the staff today that if they want to do this for ninth and tth grade, I I really want the teachers in the high school to take ownership of this. So, whatever they want, we're we're willing to make modifications. But it says junior and seniors who demonstrate a strong mastery of 80% or higher in their coursework. On designated flex days, students can uh extend their learning through additional courses or meaningful online activities. So, the structure also provides dedicated time for students who need extra support to receive one-on-one instruction, reteing intervention, ensuring every student continues to grow and succeed. So, it empowers students

062so they have voice and choice in what they want to learn. It reflects the identity of strengths and areas of growth while new opportunities for academic growth. And I'm not going to read through them all. It's engaging, le uh leading and driven by student interest, increasing curiosity and motivation. Data is used to measure student growth, guided instruction, and it's a learning pathway tailored to each student's needs and goals. So, I'm just going to give you an example of what this might look like. Now, I want to go on record by saying this isn't exactly what it might look like next year. I really want to say that because I don't want people to say, "Yeah, Lombardo, you said at that meeting, this is what it's going to look like." This is a draft of what

063our team came up with and we presented it and we're going to get some feedback and then we're going to try to implement it next year. Um, so basically, if you go to class Monday, Wednesday, Friday, you would go through your normal classes. If a teacher has the option to say, "I want flexible learning in my class." And it really has to be the teacher because there are certain courses where this may not be feasible like an AP courses and those types of things. So I want the teacher to be able to say that. So on Monday, Wednesday, Friday be regular class like we know it. On Tuesday and Thursday it would be called a flex day. So, if I'm a student and I'm going to, let's say, an algebra 2 class and I really

064understand the material, it's Tuesday, then the teacher says, "Okay, you can utilize your flex day." They can leave the classroom. We're going to have them check in uh in our uh library or a media center and if they want to work on English, if they want to work on social studies, if they um if they have time and there's a staff member in the wait room and they want to do the weight room, go ahead and do that. If they want to work on philanthropy club, if they need to get some things done for student council, this gives students the opportunity to do what they need to do on Tuesdays and Thursday. Okay. So, the idea is to give that learning uh to the students. Um but we're going to need to keep track of

065students, right? We're going to need to make sure that they do check in. Um but this will give them some flexibility in their time. And if for some reason they are not getting an 80%, then they will need to stay. Now, what happens in the classroom? You may have five to 10 students left in the classroom, then there could be some targeted instruction based on those students. So, that's where you get the one-on-one instruction. It's a little bit out of the box, but it it really is a a neat idea, and I'd like us to try to make some steps towards that for next year. Um, so do you guys want to come and talk about it from the student perspective? The fly. >> So, like Dr. Lombardo had mentioned, he presented it to us

066earlier today. Um, immediately I was on board with this option. Coming from someone who is very involved with clubs and just there's there's only seven hours in a school day to do so much and you know with sports work and just things that come after school. Um, this just seems like a very good option for those students. And we did um talk to Dr. Lombardo about how this probably wouldn't be uh this just couldn't be implemented into like an AP curriculum just because of how rigorous those courses are. But for more of your regular courses, like I use the example of my junior year, I took all AP in my subjects except for English. And in my English class, I felt like I had grasped everything pretty well. And there was a project that needed

067to be done for AP US history or I had, you know, an a couple emails that needed to be sent for NHS. So that time uh in the media center could be used for that or to ask questions. It's also a great idea for um like attendance purposes like if I'm out of school for you know philanthropy lunchon or something and I miss you know one of my class periods I can spend now this flexible learning time going back to that teacher if they're available and asking the questions that I miss. So for students, I think this is a great option. And I think it's also something that could promote project- based learning in those classes. Um because it would give students the opportunities to be able to like move curriculums at their own pace.

068Um rather than, you know, you have one student who sits in class and gets their work done the first five minutes and is now sitting there talking to the person at the desk next to them who needs the full 40 minutes to do their work. So um I think this is a great idea. I really hope this gets implemented. I I'm sad I won't be able to benefit from it. Um, but yeah, I really love this program and I think it's a great idea. >> Like with like with what Sarah said, I definitely agree that a program like this will greatly benefit our students. Um, I asked Dr. Lombardo this when I first heard about it cuz I was thinking I are the students who participate in it do they still have to follow along

069with the same coursework and he said yes they won't be exempt from it they're just given like I guess trust in that they'll they understand it and that they will make sure to complete their assignments on time while still having this like little branch of freedom to be able to complete other school work which uh I appreciate because it gives like us as students greater freedom and greater like ability to manage things on our own time and hold ourselves to like a higher standard than what we normally do. And I think that's a great opportunity to give everybody the chance to be able to participate in that. So I wanted to thank you for that. >> Appreciate it. That's cool. I I think this could be a great opportunity. I think um it really teaches

070students how to take accountability because like in the real world, no one's going to hold your hand and tell you you have to get this done. So, it really just shows us how to have integrity from a young age. Thank you guys. >> Thank you. I have one more to go through, but any questions on the fly from the board or any comments? Um, we have the flex program now at PB and we love the kids love it. I mean, they're so flexible to get involved in where they need to be involved or extra help. Uh, so I'm I'm absolutely supportive of it. >> Excellent. >> I know speaking from the mom standpoint, I mean, Julia loves being in all the things, but last week she said, "Oh my gosh, if I can't be in

071school more than three days a week, I'm never going to survive." I mean, we had she had the philanthropy lunch and then they had >> youth leadership day and she's like, "I love all the things, but I haven't been in school for more." She goes, "I can't get all this done, but if she had that flex time, she would be able to accomplish those things. Go to the media centers." She doesn't want to give anything up. But having the time to accomplish those other projects and these all of these students are in all the same things. So, they're in all the AP classes, they're in philanthropy, they're in youth leadership, they're in and it's really a great problem to have, but you know, to all of your points, it's it's the real world. You have

072to figure out how to adjust your time, allocate your time, and get the work done because nobody's going to hold your hand and say, "Okay, now you need to do this and now you need to do that." So, this is just a great opportunity for our students to teach them, you know, time management, efficiency, and, you know, how to be successful in the real world. So, I'm all for it. Yeah. And I'm I'm more excited from the other side of the spectrum. I think I think we do have students that sit in the classroom, maybe aren't mastering, but they're afraid to ask for that additional help or they're afraid to there's just not time in the class. um period to get that additional help. Our teachers would be more than happy to help whenever they

073can, but sometimes that's just not so those Tuesday, Thursdays, additional help for those students who need it. >> It's going to give time for staff to drill down and >> that's the piece that I I love about it. I mean, I think you have students who they master it and then um they are capable of being of working on their own, but those students that need that extra push are the extra those little extras to master it. I I think those are the students that will benefit even more than the students who get the flex 10. >> Sure. And it's going to allow opportunities for, you know, that peer mentoring as well. you're going to find, you know, your kids that want to buddy up and help a friend or because you're going to have

074that small group setting where you can have that peer mentoring piece that you're not going to have in the whole group setting. >> Yeah. And I I mean, I've said it I can't tell you how many times I I'm not a fan of sitting in a classroom day after day. I don't think the students today learn that way. So, anything we can do to bring a little bit of something different into our into the way we're teaching, I think it's amazing >> and it's well worth the try. >> All right. Well, we have one more and students stay there because I need your help here, too. So, this one is called Eagle Works. Earn as you learn. So, uh and I know Beth, you'll be right up the alley here for you like this one.

075partnering with local businesses for real world paid student internship opportunities. So, it's a pre-apprenticeship credential and information. We're looking at working with companies of technology, manufacturing, home building, auto industry, sports and health, facility management. Really any organization or company that would like to to partner with us. What this basically is is we're looking to see students. Now, we have all types of students and all types of learners. Some may be going to college, and that's great, but there are some that may need to go in the trades, and we need a lot more educational opportunities for students that want the trades. Let's just be honest about it. This provides opportunities for juniors and seniors to take a course. So it probably be a one section course where they learn those soft skills and we would

076partner them up with a business who would be a paid internship. So we do have some partners already but we want to make sure that we have partners that um that want to take on multiple students and so they'll go to work during the school day but they'll also get their work done. Now there's so many ways of doing that. We're coming out with an online school. So if the course is not available that particular time, they could take an online course. Um they'll spend like half the day in school and then they'll be out in the workforce. When we went to Mayfield, I was just unbelievably impressed. They started off with only a couple kids in this section, like maybe 10. They now have 129 kids. And there was a young man who spoke

077to us who works in construction. It's his senior year. He goes to work at 6:00 a.m. He does his coursework online and at uh at four o'clock 5:00 he comes home. He works the heavy machineries. He's been doing that for two years and it's something that he's passionate about. He works with his hands and and there was a young lady that that also works in manufacturing who actually she she worked the night shift so 2 3 4 in the morning. She wanted to come in and talk to us and I found out that she had some rough time going to school. They got her into this program and they're going to hire her after school in this manufacturing company. This is so absolutely exciting and they can get those recognized credentials when they graduate. Um

078this takes a lot of work to get up and running. Um but I think we have the capacity and we'll make sure we have the capacity to do this next year. Um and we'll see where it goes. We'll see if kids have an interest in this. So, uh, my seniors, what do you think? >> Overall, uh, first hearing this idea, um, I think it's really great because I have friends that school may not be their number. I mean, obviously it's our priority. However, there's some people that really enjoy school. They like sitting there learning, taking in more information. And then there's people that want to work with their hands. And I think this gives them a great opportunity to actually get into the real world and see what they actually want to do with still

079being in school instead of going to a tech. And I know that's another fear too. Many kids are timid to leave to go to a tech because like we were talking about today, the social experience within high school is your friends in the hallway during lunch and we don't want to miss that and I can speak for those friends saying that they really they really need this. It's a wonderful opportunity for them. >> Yeah. Everything that Jovon just mentioned, it's such a great opportunity and literally all of our faces lit up when Dr. Lombardo scrolled down to the second page while we were in our meeting this morning. We're all like, "Yes, finally." Um, like it was just it was an awesome moment. And we also talked about the community impact of a program like

080this. It gets um young adults, teenagers working in our communities and then in that hope staying in our communities and then hopefully one day their families get to go, their kids get to go to school here and get to see the programs that built the people that built them. Um, and I just think that's really going to be an impactful thing. And it's also going to put Geneva on the map as a great local school. If I'm someone moving into this area and I work in a job that's in the trades, like I think I'd see this and say, I see that Geneva puts a lot of value in these career fields and this is somewhere that I'd want to take my family to. So, I just think it's an amazing program and I'm a

081little jealous all the school stuff's coming in right as I'm leaving. But, um, it's just an awesome program for those kids that, you know, they're just they're different priorities and on different paths than your traditional, you know, four years of high school, four years of college. It really gives them a great opportunity. Mhm. And I also really like how by opening it up to juniors and seniors, it also entrusts them with a bit more responsibility, but it also gives people who cuz I know for a tech, you come here for at least one year and then if you want, you can go by the time you're a sophomore, but some people enter their junior or even senior year and they're like, "Oh, wait, maybe I could have gotten into a tech and gone to welding

082or something." And with this, they're still able to participate in the trade aspect and they still have like connections and stuff here at Geneva. And I know from experience, I have a friend who goes to a tech and just because yeah, she's not like right here going to school every day, but that doesn't mean I cut her out from like all my social events and stuff. So, I'm glad that we still have this here and it kind of bridges the gap and like reduces the whole stigma of going to a trade school in the first place. And and I will say you guys brought up a good point. We were talking today. Um someone said, "Well, what if I have a job? Can I go to that job?" And I said, "You know what? Why

083don't we make them a partner with us?" So, it kind of works both ways. If students find a job that they really like, we'll reach out and become partners with them. So, um, and you guys are amazing. I mean, absolutely. I couldn't say these things better. You guys are just truly amazing. Um, the students we have here and who I get to work with. >> But how about the board? What do you What are your thoughts? >> I'm super excited about this program. This is exactly what I did when I was in high school. I actually went to the boed just so I could get out of school early to go work. And uh, if we would have had that here, Geneva 100% I would have been enrolled in it. And I talked with uh,

084CT also. that's going to be building the stadium. They said they would like to, you know, have the students tour the build and learn the different trades. So, I mean, it's going to go hand in hand perfectly. So, no, I think it's a great thing. >> Love, love, love. >> Yeah. >> I I I think this is um not just great for Geneva, it's great for our community. we being out in the community as much as I am, um employers are begging for students who want to learn manufacturing and students who want to get into the trades and students who want to work and them having the opportunity to train these students when they're 17 and 18, they could have a lifelong career starting at the age of 17. And that is so cool. >>

085Love it. >> A lot of businesses when they're looking for places to to locate, a lot of them don't come to Asheville County because our we don't have the training or or personnel they need. Uh and hopefully this program will attract some of those larger businesses to come in so our kids can make some money and stay home. Maybe. >> Do you ever go to the reporter's office? because I know all of you do that so often. >> At about 1890 to 1925, Ashibula County was the largest industrial trade city on the Great Lakes, at least Lake Erie. Detroit might have beat them out closer to the turn of the century. And there was an illustrious amount of people who had both went to college and engaged in commerce and and the upper business and

086the management. But one of the things that that helped us get past the horrible shipmaking we did in the 1800s was we built some of the best iron coal plant ships, you name it. And we were able to throw it on a railroad and get it to Pittsburgh. We were able to get it to Connecticut. We were able to get it to the south, to the west, to the east. And if you even hear the trains that are going, those two rail lines have been in full service for well over 150 years. Not the actual metal on them, but you know, the directions. And one of the reasons that many people, including probably most of our families, worked here was the balance of the fact that we built things best. We were the best at

087it. If you ever look at the old railroad lines, it wasn't easy work, but it paid really well and they did really well at it. We've all seen what happened at Ashfield in this county at large after 911 when manufacturing all but evaporated. I mean, fiberglass was invented in factories here and has held on for this long. So embracing that is truly part of the heritage of Ashabila County and it's great to see students stepping into that. >> I also think this is a great um I think this could really be a boost to our chronic absenteeism problem be both of these programs because you are offering students things that they want to come to school for. That's that's what I was going to chime in with. I think this is going to go handinhand

088with helping us solve the absenteeism and truency issue because we're going to be offering things that kids want to come and do. >> We're, you know, thinking outside the box and we're, you know, meeting kids where they are instead of dragging them where we want them to be. And I think by looking at the whole, you know, picture, it's it's going to meet everybody's needs, most importantly the the children's. So, >> but yeah, I'm all for it. >> All right, so we're going to do our best to dip our toes in the water on these, too. And we'll see where it goes next year. I'd like to thank my senior students. Um, truly, I I'm going to miss you guys so much. I know we're going to have our in May, we're going to do

089a little potluck with this, but it's going to be s I'm going to be crying like a baby. I'm >> Does any of you want to just voluntarily come back next year because we'll miss you? >> Maybe. >> Sarah, >> well, we said we'd come to meetings on our break, so You guys are awesome. So, thank you and appreciate you guys being here. Thank you. >> All right. Uh, now we're going to do uh two more things we're doing here. Math adoption. So, Jen's going to come up. This will be the first reading. We usually read the first reading, which means she'll tell you about the math adoption and then we'll bring it back to you in May for the final. You want the clickeroni? You want me to do that? >> Can you do

090that? >> Sure. >> The clickeroni. So, first I wanted to recognize all the members of the math adoption committee. Um, they spent the last year doing a lot of hard work looking at a lot of different resources. So, from Austin, we had Karen Ball, Tiffany Capo, and Lisa Nent. From Cork, we had Holly Bowser, Michelle Sino, and Missy Doherty. From GPS, we had Kurt Bryan, uh, Kristen Berg. From GM uh, middle school, we had Brian Odell, Rebecca Pierce. And from the high school, we had Michael King and Rachel Blevens. So um the committee evaluated over seven different instructional resources both physical ones and online. Um they utilized the Cessich textbook adoption um rubric to look at all of these resources. uh they gathered feedback from other teachers and from students to see how the students

091were engaging with the materials and they through all that throughout the whole year they kind of narrowed it down to three of the top resources that they liked. So then we obtained quotes for those resources and then um the committee came back together and made had several discussions about you know what's going to work for the different grade levels and um then they finally presented their findings to Cesk. I'd like to invite the members to come up and talk a little bit about um we'll do uh K through eight first a little bit how they like the process and what they thought. So we have well we have Brian Odell and we have Lisa Nent to come talk about K8. >> Hi. Um we um decided kind of as a as a group for K8

092to um go with the Envision series. Um most of the people that we talked to liked the format, liked the progression. Um it does have the spiral review. Um, it does do like the hook where we're going to get the kids interested in it. It's going to do the guided practice and then it's going to give them their own indep independent practice. Sorry. Um, we felt that it would really meet the needs because we feel like especially at the elementary level, we really have to set a very strong foundation for them as they're getting into the higher math. If you don't really have that good strong foundation, then your algebra, geometry, those things don't make as much sense when you're still trying to add, subtract on your fingers. Um, it does include a workbook for

093each student. Um, and it does provide an online component um so that they can learn at home too where we could show the parents how to get on to it so that they can see videos and how things are presented to them. Um, and then the next slide there was an ED report. It just said that it met. There it is. It just um met all of the gateways in the ED report. >> Thank you. Thank you guys. So, um, Envision's great. It has a strong alignment with the Ohio learning standards. Um, I love that we have a coherent progression from K through 8 and we're not switching products in between. I think that's going to really help our students um, and our teachers for that matter because the teachers will have a good understanding

094of what the kids in the previous year went through because it's the same series and they they're set up very similarly. Um, the rigor and depth is there for Envision Math. uh the teacher usability and support materials. Envision has it. I'm really excited about the professional development. I met with the professional development um implementation specialist and we're not just going to learn how to use the product. It's going to be how do we teach math like and I think it's so important because you know math is just one of those subjects if it if it you if you don't have that foundation kids get lost and and left behind. So really excited about the Envision Math for K8. Um it's going to be a great product for us. Okay. So for math and um math

095for the high school, if Rachel would like to come up and talk a little bit about that, that'd be great. So for the high school, we went in a slightly different direction. Um we looked at all of the same curriculums and we we didn't quite kind of land in quite the same place. So the amplified Desmos math um we decided to go this route because we felt it provided us everything that the traditional kind of curriculums that we looked at provided us plus it had an additional piece with the Desmos component. Um these kids can tell you I think Desmos is the best thing to happen in math in the last hundred years. It is absolutely amazing. Um so the visual that Desmos provides to these kids so that they can see things in action.

096They can manipulate things on their screen. Um and it's very problem based as well. So it's not just the the learning the material but now the problem based application. So we felt like the amplify gave us a little bit more of what we were looking for and a maybe all the traditional pieces plus a little bit extra that we didn't feel like we were getting in some of the other curriculum. So the integration with the Desmos we felt was really important. Having those problem based components we felt was really important and being able to make them relatable to students lives and not just this is the way it works in a textbook but also this is you know maybe there's 10 different ways to go about solving this problem and really kind of focusing in

097on that problem based. Um we felt like the addition of the online component nobody else quite offered that and so that was a that was a huge sell for us the problem based and the online component as well. So hit all of the the check marks of a traditional plus some extras that we were really hoping for. Awesome. Yeah, I'm really excited about Desmos as well. Again, strong alignment with the Ohio learning standards, highly engaging technolog technology and rich platform. Um, differentiation is embedded in the the um lessons. Uh it's just it really is a great um product and I would have been happy if they did that K8 or K12, you know, K8 as well. that you know I'm happy I'm happy with the K8 having envisioned because they get those base skills and

098then at the high school they have the Desmos for that really problembased learning um and that engagement and like the kids said about the Desmos I mean the Desmos is what the state test has on the the calculator that they use and I think it's going to be great for our algebra 1 and geometry and algebra 2. So then we also because we have um probability and statistics and so they went with the achieve and then AP all the AP classes wanted mathematic and that is a online subscription and it's approved by the college board as a good um AP product. So and it's really relatively cheap you'll see in a minute. Um so I said yeah let's do that. Um so here are the numbers. So, we're a little under $500,000 for a five-year

099subscription. Now, I will tell you this does not include the math manipulatives at the elementary level, but so I have a survey out because I'm sure we have math man math manipulatives in the district. So, I'm we are going to see what we have and if we don't need to purchase any, we won't. But if we do need some, I think that's important to have those for the elementary levels and even the middle school um for that, you know, hands-on learning. So, so that I'm I'm not sure where that's going to come in, but this includes this this price here includes all the professional development that we need. So, >> and this is way under budget, right? >> Yeah. So, apparently, what did we budget, Shel, for the math? >> I was given an estimate

100of 1.2 million. >> Yeah, sure. Sorry, I just wanted to speak real quick on the AP because I forgot that was on the slide. Um, so the AP mathematics stuff that we requested is really it is a full curriculum. It is very cheap. Um, it is materials that we are utilizing in AP right now regularly. Um, all three AP math classes that we have have very robust curriculums in place. So, we didn't feel it was necessary to completely start over with a new curriculum. What we have is going to continue working. This is now an additional resource um for those AP classes. So, we're not just scrapping it for this online. This will be an addition to the pieces that we already have in place. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. >> Rachel, >> is that

101the Desmos? >> Desmos. >> Does that go along with the AP classes? >> Yeah. So, Desmos is now on the state test. It's on all College Board exams. So, all the AP exams and it's on the ACTs as well. So, >> so they use that on the Okay. >> Yep. Yep. It is built in on the desktop. this, but it comes up a lot. >> Oh my goodness, it is. It is life-changing as far as a calculator goes. This is the first year in AP Stats. This is the first year that it's been available. And the amount of time that I have saved not trying to teach the 400 buttons you have to press to get 12 menus deep on a TI84 is has been life-saving because they just type it in and they have

102this beautiful visual in front of them. Um, so it's now integrated into essentially all of the assessments that they have to take. Um, we're still kind of investigating as to how that translates in college because, you know, the kids leave here and then they forget to call us and tell us that, hey, by the way, this is what we do in my college math class. Um, but a lot of times they use such specialized software when they get to that point anyways that, um, you know, Desmos is going to be a piece of that, but they're using more specialized tools when they get to college. So, um, right now we're kind of using a mixture of the TI84 and Desmos um, at least in our upper level upper level classes. Um, but it is definitely

103the the Desmos is just so user friendly that that's kind of the direction that we're headed. >> And Desmos is an interface similar to CNC and other engineering STEM steam based. So they're not taking out their TI84 and building tons of confidence with their supervisors programming the machine. >> Indeed. Yeah. Um, it I mean it's it's very user friendly. The visuals that it provides is great. Um, the stats functions in there are just it's just amazing. It's it's really nice. So we're very excited. those that can drop Pac-Man like the TI84. >> Um, if you get really good, yes. I'm not that good yet, but some of the kids are. >> Thank you, Rachel. >> Any questions? >> Are still going to be able to offer high school credits to eighth graders? And how would

104that with our >> Oh, yes. So, um, yes, the high school the eighth graders that are taking algebra 1 will still get high school credit >> and they'll use the high school. >> They're going to No, they're going to use the Envision and and I'm fine with that because Envision is is um qualified for up to up to geometry or algebra 2. So, I'm I was fine with that. You know, we had a long discussion about that. You know, should those eighth graders use the Desmos math? Um, and the middle school teachers felt strongly that they continue with the envision and I'm fine with that. >> And I don't Mr. want to talk to that at all or >> All right. Any other questions? >> All right. So, we'll bring that back to you in

105May for final approval. And thank you everyone for presenting. Did a nice job. All right, our final school uh presentation GPS building level action plans. >> If you want me to or do you want it? >> Okay, just keep me on my toes. Tell me when. >> Give it one second to warm up. Now try it. The light went off. >> All right. >> Okay, here we go. Um, like the ladies before me, we all have three building goals and one of them is attendance. Um, obviously that's a problem for the district. Um, ours last year was 29.9% chronic absenteeism. A lot of that has to do with we have a lot of students that leave in December and return in January, February, um that type of thing. So, we have a lot of movement

106within our district or in our building. Um so, I'm hoping to drop that down by 5% and when we get into this, you'll see a little bit of how that's working right now. Also, I want to improve third grade reading guarantee proficiency. I have some data in here about that. And also third grade math proficiency. Um, we're kind of at a uh at a loss when we start. Um, the the the site is in here, but I want to make sure I mention it. When my when our kindergarters come in, I have 32% of them are the only ones that are on track. So, we are already behind the eight-ball when we start. So, that does affect our attendance and other things that are going to be present. Um, last year we had 10 students

107with attendance plans. This year, right now, we only have five. So, um, we're on the right track. We're meeting that. We have um implemented tiered attendance and interventions. Mrs. Church has been um instrumental in that. Our school secretary, I'm making her call. I'm making her document. Um and my staff, they're dojoing. Hey, is Johnny coming today? What time is Johnny going to be here? Johnny, we need you here. Um we recognize and reward improved attendance daily and monthly. We launch attendance awareness campaigns. We have announcements. We have on our Facebook page, newsletters. Um and again, the teachers are part of that as well. We do daily shoutout sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh shout outs. So like in the middle of

108the day, I might just say, "Hey Susie, thank you for being here today. Come on up and get a prize." So So that helps some of those students that are chronic, they might be there that day and that could be their spotlight and maybe that'll encourage them to come the next day. U we have monthly student recognition. We have prizes and they can earn an extra special. We have classroom competitions and they also win an extra special as a group. We have building advertisements throughout the hallways. Some of our sample prizes are cabs tickets, gift baskets that Mrs. Church has provided, gift cards, um, giant eagle cake coupon. The one lady actually, she I took a picture with her and she goes, "This is really great because my mom's birthday's tomorrow." And so she actually

109got a cake that she could go home and, you know, say, "Hey, I got you a cake, mom." Um, they get McDonald's Happy Meal or dessert tickets. Um, they still love our book vending machine. I know that was a hot topic a while ago, but my building, those students really like that thing. Um, they get Pioneer Water Land tickets at the end of the year for those that didn't miss a day. Um, and we have STEM games also that they get to. We have a lot of these things are donated to us. So, I appreciate that. So, let's start with our first our third grade ELA. I'm going to talk about the most recent event. So, these are the most recent event. We had 63 students that took it. You can see um what where

110are we fall demographically on there for limited, basic, proficient, accomplished, and advanced. We only had 32% pass in the fall. 32%. And on our next slide, you can see how I broke that down. 44 students were at GPS at least one year before the test. Out of the 44, 28 were limited in basic, six were proficient, three were accomplished, and seven were advanced. 64% of our 44 students were not proficient on the first try, which I get it. It's third grade. I mean, really, that test is geared to the end. but we would like to at least see half of them at that point. Another statistic is 19 students were new to the GPS. They've never had one of our teachers and that is my overflow every single year. We had three of those proficient,

11116 limited or basic. So out of the 19 students that have joined us this year, 84% of them are not proficient. So these are a lot of things that we need to work on. Um this is just I just wanted to show you one quick little data collection that I have um made for the teachers and we do it every year. I look and see what teachers did they have from K to third and then this goes on to fourth grade and fifth grade so everybody can see who's who's had whom and all their scores will be there at the end of the year. Their state testing results will be in there so fourth grade can see and then we had fourth grades in to fifth grade. Um, we just had a conversation about branching

112minds the other day and um, this will fit nicely in there so I don't have to do all this work all the time. It'll be kind of in there. Um, one thing I'd look from this is um, is there a pattern? Is there a pattern with grade levels that we're not reaching um, through the through the three years? So that's just from that's just from those third graders right now. So on our fall, our last year's test, we had 57.9% proficient in English and in math. That was last year. That was overall. This is our comparison by tested grade. If you look at our English, our school was 57.9 for third grade. The district was 64 and the state was 61. We're not we're not far off, but we still have a lot a lot

113of gains we need to take. Um the same with math. 57.9 is our building. The district was 65.7 and the state was 64.4. So as I mentioned earlier, some of our deficits um we got three stars on our early literacy rating. Again, only 32.2% are coming into us demonstrating readiness for kindergarten. We have a high percentage of students entering school that are below benchmark in funological awareness, letter sound knowledge, and oral language. We have internal data that shows gaps in foundational reading skills especially with students with disabilities and the economically disadvantaged students. We also have behavior and seal social emotional learning and we need an increased need for tier one behavioral instruction and consistent expectations across the board for all of us. We have a rising number of students requiring t tier 2 supports in

114the seal and we have staff that are desiring more training in those restorative practices and deescalation strategies um which I'll get to in a couple slides. >> Mrs. Pzeno, can I ask you a question quickly? >> Sure, sure. >> I guess I just did. But >> when you're talking about incoming kindergarteners demonstrating readiness, you're not talking about being able to read words. No, >> you're talking about a is a >> Yes. A E I >> A is an A. >> One, two, three. >> Basic. Okay, cool. Just wanted to make sure I clarified that. >> Yes. So, one of our obstacles is we have a large turnover, K to3 turnover. Um, I've, as you know, I I was moved from Osber to GPS. In the last three years, we've had one kindergarten teacher that's turned

115over. We've had three first grade teachers that have turned over. We've had four second grade teachers that have moved or turned over. And then we have seven third grade teachers. Now, some of that is they have students, they have their own children that are going to court, you know, like they move logistically like that. We've had a lot of student or um teachers that have gotten married and moved out of the district or are buying a house out of the district and they're leaving. So, we we have a lot of turnovers, which is um very worrisome. I mean, that's that's a that's a hard thing to come back for because every year I feel like we're starting fresh with a teacher. um not that they're not capable, it's just that it's just another another point

116for me on my radar. Um some of the things that we do, we have extended learning opportunities. K to five is invited um Tuesdays and Thursdays. Um they get high impact tutoring. They're intentional. They're closely aligned to grade level standards. We remain responsive to specific skill gaps. Um we're always taking data and that's how we're um targeting those students when they when they arrive. Also, um I'm not sure if you know or not, but until the last two weeks, we've had buses that didn't come till 4:00 or we are lacking bus drivers. So, they take one group and then they come back and get another group. So, some of those kids are sitting there from 3:15 to almost 4:00 waiting for buses. So, what we've done is we've taken those students um we got permission

117from Dr. Lombardo to take those students and do small groupoup interventions with them. I mean, they're there. I mean, other than that, they're sitting in a cafeteria just waiting for a bus. Um, so we've had some dedicated teachers that give up almost every single day after school to go work with those students in those pocket groups um, just to help with with that. And it does target their essential skills that they're lacking because we've communicated with the teachers that they've had. So we break them down like first grade, second grade, and so on. So that's that's been a um a real positive. But we still did not have a reading specialist last year. That was an unfilled position for us. So something we were lacking. So, we're trying to make up for that. Also, interventions

118to help bridge. Um, like my co-partners here, we use NWA MAP, EXL, CKLA Boost. Um, we also look at the the data, identify the students specific skills and gaps um and readiness levels. And we give teachers a pro a precise starting point for intervention that's built into those systems. EXL offers targeted adaptive practice aligned to MAP allows students to build mastery through personalized instruction and they get real-time feedback and CKLA boost gives just an another layer of support and re reinforces those literacy skills. Um, also we have titled tutors which I'm going to talk about but they all they help create and administer formative checks, provide timely insight into growth in areas of need. We adjust instruction in real time. So, if we're working and we see that, oh, they're not getting it. Let's let's

119take a step back. Um, most teachers are differentiating lessons to align with student readiness. We're creating small groups receiving targeted support and enrichment, and we create a responsive learning environment to support and challenge each student. So, our title one services, um, I'll read the bottom first. We started off with a K1, two, three, and four, five. Our K1 left in in November. Um, she found something else to do and she left. So, my other title tutors, Miss Green and Miss Alman, has really stepped up to the plate with this. They know that K1 is essential. I mean, this is what we've been talking about and what we really need. So, not only are they doing their grade levels, they have divided and conquered um to help with kindergarten and first grade. We also have a

120substitute who is um going to school to be a teacher. He comes three days a week. So, we have that going in and out of the rooms and then we have the other two doing the data processing. So, it's been a it's a been a a welcome service for them, but and I'm thankful for them. But they're providing additional time, instruction, and resources. They're supporting literacy foundation and math and um ELA and academic behaviors. We we do have some behaviors in there that we are trying to adjust. Um they're helping students succeed and then they're allowing educators to tailor to small group. Um this was part of our breakdown last year. I wanted you just to see that staff. I know that you guys looked at our report cards at the beginning of the school

121year. Um kind of the last one to go here, but um I just wanted to reiterate some of the things that were in our report card. So that was our overall school information as you can see there. Um this was our English, math, and science. Um blue means that we met green is like the growth that expected growth. Blue is like three points past the expected growth. So you can see that we do have um a lot of that going on. This is um we got gap closing stars. So I know it's confusing when I say well okay we're not making progress K to two um then three four five comes along. So somewhere along the way right we start bridging that gap. So those students that were behind in kindergarten behind in first grade

122we're catching them up. So we are breaking the gap. So that's the difference between us and say Austinberg we are we're behind and we're able to fill that quickly. We can show that as fast as possible. Um, so I don't want that to be like we're doing something wonderful. It's just that we are we are really focusing on this area and then by the time they take the test and progress we got five stars. So you can see there the English um we were had evidence of student met student growth but then when they get to fifth grade between third so between third grade, fourth grade and fifth grade by the time they get there there's exceeding their student growth expectations. So we just have to figure out how to fix that K the K

123to three part. Um and then those are our achievement stars. We got three stars for that. We do not make the proficient. We don't make the proficient but we make meeting the gap. So you have to pick which one. Um I want to talk a little bit about the culture at DES since I've been there. Um one of the things I've been working on is the overall culture and using restorative practices. Um I think if Mr. Mr. Cooper came in, he'd see a big difference then than it was when he came when he was the SRO there. Um, we've been working on that for the past three years. Restorative practices, we're focusing on students belonging, joy, and shared purpose. Um, a lot of our students come in and, um, you know, they're defeated before they

124even get in the door. Um, we make them feel valued, safe, and capable. We encourage them to dream big, harder, and to grow. Um, the culture is now the heartbeat of our school community. um growth in culture has led to growth across the entire school and moving forward with clarity, hope and momentum. And I think that Dr. Lombardo shared this, but um we did earn the momentum award um and I if you want to go to the next slide um this is a powerful testament to the dedication, consistency and heart of the team at GPS. They bring it every day. Earning this recognition means our students are growing, thriving, and achieving at levels that reflect the collective efforts of teachers, support staff, and leadership working in harmony. Our commitment to high-quality instruction, meaningful relationships, and

125positive school culture is evident in every classroom and hallway. And I would welcome any of you to come in and see the difference that it really has um that staff has really been making with those students and making them feel belonged, which has always been a barrier for us. And now that we have restorative practices in place, they're able to go back in the room and learn. >> Excellent. >> Do you have any questions? >> I will come visit. Check it out. >> You should. And you can ask. I mean, you can talk to officer Gail as well. >> You got the thumbs up. All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Amy. >> Yeah. exceed my expectations. >> They they have a lot of your wife in them. >> Well, yeah, she did. >> Oh,

126thank you. >> Oh, and that's it for me. >> Thank you. >> All right. It's time for the financial report. >> Take it away. >> A motion in a second. >> All right. Can I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Oh my. >> It a second, please. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Sure. So you do have the um March financial report. Um I just want to touch on a based on a few things. Um looking at incomes, we did receive the final um payment on our settlements. Um it did come in lower than forecasted. So this is not a uncommon uh thing across the state. Um with the um budget passing and having a credit that's going through um it'll hit the second half. There were a lot of people who normally may pay

127their taxes in full um that are just paying half for the year because they don't know how that credit is going to affect their second half property tax bill. Um I don't think the state knows yet how it's going to affect the second half um property tax bill. Um so you know we are also waiting to hear the effect of that but it was down about um 1% across the board. Um kind of something else um and that's just for the real purp utilities were down about 4.2% on the collection. Um the expenditures wise um we are a little bit higher than at the current time I'm planning on outside transportation. Again that does vary year to year. Um you know with the um per se um I'm sorry the forecast that was due now

128in February instead of May um you know some of those costs that weren't unknown or that start coming in you know after the fact. Um when I had done the forecast uh the property tax was late going in the property tax insurance I'm sorry the property insurance um so there's some things that will um affect that um so every month as the expenditures get in um you know I am adjusting what the forecast will look like going forward um it is a everchanging monthly procedure um just so you know I will be doing an updated forecast in June June. Um, again, they are required now in February and August. I think now that we are going forward, we do have, you know, more of a a a for sure cost on the curriculum where again

129I thought it was supposed to be 1.2 million was a quote I was given last year. Um, it's now should be probably at the max 600,000 I think with the manipulatives. So, you know, we'll be able to see that savings of 600,000 um in next year's or I'm sorry, in the June forecast. um in May. We also don't have staffing changes. We are currently implementing the staffing changes so we know where those are going. Um you know, so we we may have changes in purchase services because we are no longer going to have, you know, certain things outsourced. We're going to bring them in. So of those things that are outsourced, they may affect the salaries and benefits. So um you know, I'll be able to go through and talk through the changes in the

130forecast. Um I did attend the OASBO conference that is um down in Columbus. It's a collection of classified school business officials. Uh last week a lot of the big topic was the um push to abolish property tax kind of and we talked about this uh we were at a board training last night. He kind of touched on this also. Um just so you know and I want to get the the numbers correct. So what is needed is 413,000 signatures from 44 of the 88 counties. So they have to be certified registered voter signatures. Um those have to be turned in by July 1st and then start the endless process of the state to verify every single um signature on there. So, like anybody, you know how you guys run for school board, if you're required

131to get 50, you get double because someone could say, "Yes, I'm a registered voter in here." And they are not. So, that that signature is automatically, you know, defeated or wiped out. Um, at the current time, they had there is no update on how many approximate signatures that are being received has been received yet. Um there's supposed to be an update in the next few weeks on on what that will do. Um on a good note, when the those turned in on July 1st and they do realize that there aren't enough signatures, they are back down to square zero. Um those signatures that have been certified are only good for the November election. Um, on a bad note, let me just tell you, um, just preliminarily, if that abolishment of property tax does go through,

132the amount of our budget normally, again, I'll touch on this on the on the revised forecast, but, you know, our revenues are about $30 million a year. About five million of that is our um income tax, but I want to give you a 9.8 million. So, that is 33% of the revenues that we need to operate this school do come from property tax. Um so you know this is not just a local issue that we are dealing with in the school districts. Um I worked for a township for 12 years. You know property tax that goes to pave your roads that goes to get your um your services for your your ambulances your sheriffs your police. I mean, so, you know, I think if this does get passed and it will go again to be

133on the November ballot, there will be a lot of um information coming out um and and how schools and and all local municipalities will be funded. Um and I think at the current time, the state also does not know, you know, how to counteract the loss of property tax revenue. So, you know, if it is an increase in your income taxes, if it is an increase on your sales tax, that is all unknown. Again, this is new territory. No one has, you know, abolished property taxes. So, um it's an everchanging uh world of of school finance as it continues. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> So, I don't know if there's any questions um as we go forward on this, at least on this, but I you know, I just did want to touch base on >>

134Can you find another $600,000 somewhere? I I appreciate the the work that the math curriculum did do to find a wonderful curriculum that did not cost again, you know, and I'm sure that quote was just pulled out there on on other purchases for math curriculums. You know, I think we also looked at, you know, our English curriculum was about 600,000. So, you know, we're talking math and it was, you know, it was a K through 12 instead of just a elementary school. So, hey, if that was 600,000, I guess, you know, math will be one point. But I do appreciate that that nice savings that we can utilize. >> Excuse me. >> All right. Any other questions or discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Craig. Yes. >> Mrs. Cyolski? Yes. >> Mr. Pearson? Yes.

135Mr. Andress? Yes. Mr. Cooper? >> Yes. All right. Item 12.2, items for disposal. Uh, you need a motion, please. >> So moved. >> All second. >> Discussion. So, just really quick, this um are items that most of these items were in the House on the Hill as we're cleaning them out. Um, so, you know, if these items can be recycled, if they can be sold, you know, that's the normal route will be taken on these items. But we are going forward with cleaning out the house. Perfect. Any questions or discussion? Anyone need a microwave before mic table >> or 10? >> There were quite a few down there. >> I was going to say or 10 >> there. Yes. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Syolski. Yes. >> Mr. Pearson. Yes. Mr. Andress.

136Yes. Mr. Cooper. Yes. And Mrs. Craig. >> Yes. All right. Legislative report. >> Mr. Pearson. >> I won't talk so close to it. this time. I >> was going to say speak softly. I cannot talk about the elimination of property taxes because um the legislature overwhelmingly on partisan lines voted that I we even myself as a board member cannot make any type of statement about how eliminating property taxes can have an interest in a district unless we say it factually. And because it's a hypothetical and it hasn't happened yet and we don't know it pitfalls, there's no way for me to do that in the confines of the law. So I can simply tell you that it would have an impact on the school period. And so that's what I did. Governor Mike DeWine formally

137launched the Ohio attendance dashboard this week. Uh it's basically attendance is becoming a huge issue postcoid. Uh no one knows how to fix it. There are incentives as you see that we are implementing. Um but we're looking at ways to reduce chronic absenteeism. Uh for a while we were asking everyone for the students. Most of us and that the whole picture of Ohio at large are realizing talking to students why they aren't attending. Having the conversation with the parents about difficulties to get them in and resolving it at that level is having a pretty good impact. So I think over the next few months if not the better portion of a year we should see attendance raising. we're seeing it kind of trickle up as as we've even seen with our own statistics now. Um

138so that's on a really good trend. Um there are a few Senate activity bills. One has to talk about what defines an athletic trainer in high school. Um the other one talks about epinephrine auto injectors or EpiPens. Um so there are already some governance on that. They're not going to have huge impacts with us, but we'll be on the lookout obviously if we need to change policy. Um, we'll have those on there. There is a a large amount of talk about what do needs to implement as far as standardized testing. So, we'll see that from our senators Thomas and Reynolds what they have to do. Um, there's some interesting bills. I think my favorite is that each school has to buy and affix a master key box to it in case you get locked out.

139I guess that's a huge concern that we're having. Um, other than that, basically we're seeing a lot of legislation that that's going towards the use of AI, the use of computers, the literacy of that therein, and also we're seeing privacy bills. Now, I think that most people wouldn't talk about the privacy bills on the education portion because we're seeing it nationally and at the state level, but currently there is federal legislation that is basically saying here are the rules about use of AI in governance and you can't make a state law about it. Um, it's probably one of the most barring bills I've ever seen as far as it basically tells the states you can't pass a law about this. I would imagine it'd be really hard to pass in its current form, but it's

140still interesting to see senators or I should say uh Congress people propose such a strong bill with such affirmative language as to bar the states from making their own own laws. I know that u the governor has has been pretty vocal against it. Um, and then lastly, I want to talk about um, while we look for the push to ab, you know, abolish property taxes and other things, I just want to get out ahead of a narrative that, um, a lot of people that are running right now on both sides are talking about consolidation. And I would advise the taxpayers to take a a good look, no matter which side that you fall on, on the implications of if that person or people are able to one, redistrict a map, two, take away property taxes,

141your taxes at large don't get, I would say, largely cheaper. It's not like you get a refund. But unfortunately what does happen is the state in all of its wisdom has chosen not to fund schools. We've had this problem solved. We had we had you know Dr. Patterson and I believe is it Mr. Cup >> Mr. Yeah. Mr. Cup had solved this with fair school funding. In fact they solved it by partisan and they solved a problem that had existed for a long time in a sliding scale that could be adjusted on the fly. Our current leadership in the county decided to get rid of that for some reason and it has an impact on our school systems all over the county. We're going to be able to inevitably recover from any type of incompetency

142that occurs in the school or funding. Unfortunately, it just presents a problem that doesn't need to exist. Um, for anyone in Geneva that wants to see more about that, I would look up fair school funding and I would look at how um and why it's no longer used and and what's being proposed in its alternative. I did notice that our senator uh and congressperson in and at least this district, they had campaigned on uh portions of abolishment of property tax. And from my understanding in a recent conversation they were scrambling to have town halls to talk about how let's not be too hasty here that might not be good. So it's going to be interesting to see once the fact sheets and and the implications for us financially come out what that looks like in

143a state level. And just to mirror what what um you know Mrs. McDermad said, I see there being huge obstacles here. Um, typically the people who they're advocating for are good, hardworking tradesmen, um, who sometimes work in the very things that we're asking people to stop funding. And I think it's farreaching, but the implication will have an effect on the district. That's all I have. >> Indeed. >> All right. Our a tech report. Um, great things are happening at a tech this spring. Um, the environmental and natural resources program was awarded $7,000 from the nursery growers of Lake County to be used for program needs. The senior scholarship assembly is May 20th at 8:30 a.m. at a tech. Uh, the senior award ceremony is May 22nd at 700 p.m. at Jefferson High School. Uh, some

144student recognition. Um, Ali Liner, senior from Geneva, will be starting her career at CM Brown in Madison as the IPM manager, integrated pest management manager, looking for insects and disease, and then doing the application, setting up equipment, and calibrating. Uh, Haley Burns, HCA junior from Geneva, was inducted into the National Technical Honors Society this month as well. So, congratulations to those young ladies. Um, and then board member reports. >> Mr. Cooper, you want to start? Do you have anything? >> Um, I'm happy in in the direction we're going. Uh, I know there's some growing pains um that we have to work through and and still show the respect to some of our employees um when they feel disrespected. I think we're working on that. I think my our biggest issue is these are the people

145that are always here. We got to figure out some way to get our message out. Um because I think we're doing some some really exciting things here and uh we just need we need more people to understand it so we don't go to um we don't go to Mary's Diner and hear people complaining about the schools that really don't have have the facts. So let's work on that a little bit. Other than that, that's all I got. Thank you. >> Great, Mr. Andress. Um, yeah, I met with uh what a few of the different developers for the stadium build and I was happy to to land on CTO. Um, they're a great company. They're going to save us uh a lot of money compared to others. Um, I did speak with him and he's going

146to definitely look at uh, you know, material costs and everything to get us, you know, hopefully under budget or, uh, you know, we can get our bathrooms and concession stands and everything else that we need. And then I recently just went and looked at the middle school, the light pole. They just went ahead and epoxied in the new bolts. So hopefully that'll be getting fixed here real soon this week coming up. And yeah, all is good. >> Okay, Mr. Pearson, did you have anything? >> No, not substantial. I just want to make sure that people know. Um, if you guys if you guys have an issue and and you want to reach out to us, if you invoke or respond to everyone on the board, we can't respond to you. It does nothing. And in

147in the case of there being any type of agency that it enforces federal, state, local laws, we literally are a legislative branch of government, not executive, which means we have nothing to do with that. Um, I see questions about a bunch of things that we get. Um, well, how come this is a policy or questions about occurrences that have had and what our thoughts are on it? And by and large, I can't weigh in on an investigation that's occurring. And two, a lot of the times people are just revealing information that we would have not known about in any other circumstance. Um, so I just want to tell you if you ever find yourself in that situation, especially with a student and you're navigating it, I would probably ask you to talk to um either

148the law enforcement talking to you or retain maybe an attorney if you deem that to be the applicable solution because individual board members or the board at large cannot represent you. Uh, and I want to be clear, for some people, you have no idea what I'm talking about. For the pe but for the people that need to hear that, um, unless we notice a meeting, we can't all get together and respond to you via email. If you want to respond to one of us and ask us our opinion, we can totally do that. Um, but it's not practical and it does very little in the way of solving your problem. So, while not a report, I guess I'll use this time to platform that that's probably not the best use of your our time. Mrs.

149Solski. >> Uh, I don't have a lot. I just want to, um, we had the OSBA training last night, which was really good. Um, it's always, um, enlightening to learn what you, you know, you don't know how much you don't know when you're doing uh, something like this. And it's nice to know that we have the support that we need to, to make um, informed decisions. and I thought that the training was great. Um, and then I just want to wish everyone a great uh we were so close to the end of the year and it's been uh it's been a journey. It's been a pleasure. Um I think we're moving in the right direction and um I wish everybody the best the end of the year as we get through get through all of

150this >> without crying because I have a senior. Um, I just wanted to comment on Mr. Miller, the sub. Um, he has been a sub here for so long. I remember Alex talking about him subbing and how much they all loved him. So, it's really sweet to see that he got recognized with that award. So, um, I just thought that was really lovely. I had to comment on him. Um, I wanted to mention the magic show that the foundation is sponsoring. Um, if you're not aware of what the the Geneva Schools Foundation is, um, we're definitely going to be pushing out some more information. So, everyone is I know Mr. McMichel spoke about it tonight during the public comment se section. Um, but it's definitely an organization that's going to take, you know, a bigger

151dive to support all of the entities that are part of our school district. Um, we're going to have more information out there, but this is a big piece of the fundraising effort to get us some substantial funds um to start doing good in our district. So, we're going to be pushing out information to sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh sh share. We need to sell these tickets. We definitely want to have a packed house. So, look for that information coming out and share, share, share. Um I think it's going to be a a really fun night. Something we've never really done in this town. So, don't don't be afraid to come and enjoy a nice

152evening out. Grab your kids, grab your neighbors. It'll be a fun time and uh spend the evening with us. It's all for a good cause as well. Um I also joined um Mrs. Cybolski and Dr. Lombardo and Mrs. McDermott last night at the board professional development at the county. Um very enlightening. Very enlightening to see what they're trying to push through in Columbus. very enlightening. Um, yeah, just very enlightening. >> Well, I will say that I h being we approve being a member of OSBA every year. >> Correct. >> And >> it is well worth what we the the people who are advocating for public education in Columbus >> are truly >> have our back. >> Warriors. Yeah. They are >> there. They're on it. and hearing them talk with the passion that they have

153for making sure that decisions being made are are supporting public education. It it while we hear a lot of controversy and not so great things, they are they are boots on the ground working really hard to make sure that we're being protected and and and it's very much worth what we pay every year to be a member of OSBA. >> And I think over all of the things that I did hear that were happening, the one resounding message that I took from last night was this. We are hearing so much about vouchers and how they're being, you know, vouchers are basically our public tax dollars being funneled into private schools. >> Yeah. So, one resounding message that I took with me last night was this is that for everything that is introduced right now in

154Columbus, the first question that is asked whenever there is a ask of public schools and there's some guideline or some requirement that public schools are going to have to meet in order to take those dollars. if they're going to give those dollars to a voucher school or a private school, the first question out of their mouth is, are they going to have to abide by the same standards as the public school? And then that goes into a whole another round of conversations. So, our voices are being heard. They are starting to realize that we are on to what they're doing and we are tired of playing this game. So, I think I left with that message over and over again because that was what we kept saying. The rules of engagement are changing and they're

155hearing us and those conversations are happening. So, we have to keep at it. And I think we need to go back to our community and keep saying those things because the bottom line is as public educators, as a public school board, as a public school teacher, we don't get to say no. We take everyone. So, while everybody has the opportunity to go and and choose a school with that voucher, and that private school gets to say, "We don't want this kid, they need special services, they need an IEP, they need this, they need an ED unit, they need a counselor, they can say, "No, thank you. We don't have that right. Our door opens to everyone. We have to accept everyone." And we're now hearing legislators say, "Oh, but wait, they don't have to do

156that. So, if you're going to take these public dollars, you too have to accept little Johnny that needs the IEP or he needs the ED room or he needs the autistic support. All of these things are now being heard. So, although it's not like the flip of a switch, but at least our voices are are being heard. So, that's that's at least one little positive. So, I leave you with that. >> Can I piggyback off that real quick? >> Hm. >> Can I piggyback off that real quick? >> Sure, go for it. There's some weird thing with our local reps where they try to act like the schools are evil and losing, but they've not lost the voucher battle once. Let me repeat, we haven't lost it. We haven't lost it when we filed it.

157We didn't lose it on appeal. We're not losing it when David Thomas talks about how we >> and they and not to interrupt you, but they've also found the first reading of where they were sign as unconstitutional. That's going to fall away. >> It is. It is. It is. And it's an unconstitutional premise. But to even go from that, what we're hearing in some of the rhetoric we're seeing, last year, Ohio passed school levies, 87%. So to undermine the funding by tax basis that was based on those votes is undermining 87% of the Ohio tax base, that is a fact, which I'm allowed to say. And I cannot for the life of me figure out who is asking the question, how much money can we take away from public schools when those same people have

158attended public schools. I have nothing against private schools. I don't have a negative thing to say. Some fit the the niche that they fill for STEM or religious curriculum amazingly and they put out great students. This isn't a slam on them. Our our argument is if there's a better funding, why don't we start there instead of saying let's just eliminate all of it, right? If we're having a hard time paying our bills, the solution isn't, well, we're going to stop paying it. It's typically to restructure and figure out a better way. So, you know, I I loved that they sent us that slide yesterday, but the OSBA, I mean, they care about the taxpayer, like Beth had said. Um, they don't just advocate for a school or our bottom line or protect our assets. In

159fact, I would say most of the time they're only presenting things that affect houses or households that have school-aged children in the state of Ohio, and that is their main priority. >> I would agree. They do a great job of of representing children in public schools in Ohio. Period. >> And we we are an added we're a fringe benefit of that. So, but that's that's what I have. So, >> anything else? >> All right. Can I get a motion to adjurnn? >> No motion. >> Second. >> Roll call. You guys are going so quick with that part. >> Ah, let's do Mrs. Craig. >> Yes. >> I lost my stuff. Just Mrs. Sibolski. >> Yes. >> Mr. Mr. Pearson. Yes. Mr. Andrew. Yes. And Mr. Cooper. >> Yes. >> Meeting adjourned.