Geneva Area City Schools Board Meeting - 4/16/25

001[Music] Good evening everyone. Welcome to the April 16th, 2025 regular board meeting of the Geneva Area City Schools Board of Education. Roll call, please. Mrs. Syolski, here. Mrs. Craig, here. Mrs. Milikin Dixon, here. Mrs. Ortiz, present. And Mr. Pearson, here. Certification by the treasure of compliance with the meeting requirements. We are in compliance. 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. If you are able, please stand for the pledge. [Music] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and

002justice for all. Do we have any correspondence this evening? Uh, nothing that won't be covered further into the meeting. Perfect. Um, we're going to wave the reading and approval of the minutes. Report of the interim superintendent. Hold on. Vote on. Oh, I'm so sorry. Yes. I need a motion, please. So moved. Second. Roll call. Mrs. Syolski? Yes. Mrs. Craig? Yes. Mrs. Milikin Dixon? Yes. Mrs. Ortiz? Yes. And Mr. Pearson. Yes. Okay. Now, the report of the interim superintendent. Okay. So, uh, Mr. Riley had a family emergency at the end of the day. So, I will kind of just fill you in on some of the items that he wanted to talk about. Um, just so you know, if you go on to the new to the website, you might say, "Oh, it might look a

003little different." So, we uh he is his office is in the process of of updating that. I know I think with some other individuals in the district. Uh so the district page now has more direct access. Uh right now there is a employment tabs. There's district information, activities, final forms, community outreach. Um and then there are secondary with departments and building links. Uh so if you click into a few of them, it might say under construction. So um you know, we're getting there, but we're trying to make it a little more easier and uh to to maneuver in the websites. Uh each of the schools still have their own pages. they will be updating those also as we get further on into the spring. Um, also rolling out from the superintendent's office is the uh,

004Applatra. So, that is now an online um, recruiting source and so where all of our job postings will be, people will be able to um, apply for the jobs right electronically. Um, we will put them both for internal and external job postings and the onboarding packets will come from Mrs. Richmond out of the superintendent's office still. Um, currently it's being used for administrative and certified positions and eventually we are going forward with um the classified and supplemental positions in the future. Um, as of today, if you would go on and look at job postings, um, even though I just said that we didn't have classified, we do because we have a bus driver uh, always opening on there. We have the director of food services and an American Sign Language teacher. So again, you know,

005we're kind of getting just right where other districts have been. This will make a smooth process now. U make it easier for hiring and onboarding and getting things through. So it's, you know, a much more pleasant procedure, especially when you get do get hired, the forms are, you know, filled out as you go along and you're not writing the same name, social security number everywhere. So it is a more pleasing um aspect for the employee who's being onboarded. Um just so you a friendly reminder that the offices will be closed on Friday the 18th. Good Friday. Also no school for students on the 21st. Uh offices will be closed. The uh board office will be opened on Monday the 21st. Um classes will resume on the 22nd and also there are no classes on Friday,

006May 2nd. Um also on the horizon are appreciation days. Um April 23rd is administrative professional appreciation day. May 1st, principal appreciation day. May 2nd, school lunch hero day. May 5th, Ohio School bus driver day. And May 5th through the 9th is teachers/staff appreciation week. Um, last thing is upcoming events for the class of 2037. Kindergarten registration at GPS April 28th and 29th at Cork Elementary April 30th. um at Austinberg Elementary May 1st. And last but not least, seniors, the class of 2025, last day is May 23rd and graduation is coming up on June [Music] 1st. Who do we have for administer? Um so I think who wants to go first? Not every Mr. King will now present the high school middle school update. I go over. Thanks. All right. I am here on behalf of

007the high school and the middle school. Uh the middle school wanted me to go ahead and share about Miss Adam's sixth grade class. Um they got an amazing wonderful box and inside the box was their stories that they had personally written in their own words with their own pictures and the topics included everything math. So they took, you know, math at sixth grade can be a little challenging, maybe a little dry, but they put it into a children's story and they went and they had each of the stories published into books. They were each received a copy of the book and all of the books are going to be uh there's going to be one set that's going to be at the middle school forever. So you can go in and check out their stories.

008It's pretty cool. Each of them are now published authors in the field of math. Pretty cool. not I, sixth graders uh from the high school. Just real quick, as many of you know, the band took on the House of Mouse and marched down Main Street, USA. They had an amazing time. They had a great time. Um they got some extra time in the uh recording session. Um two hours they were supposed to get less, but they love Miss Brown and the kids so much that they get got to keep uh performing. Uh Miss Brown has all those recordings. They did incredibly well. And if you look at the pictures that were in the paper and that I shared with you, they even wore their grape jamboree shirts. So, Geneva proud. Um, another quick uh update,

009the four club held their first Friends of Rachel Club held their very first prom clothes exchange, if you will. You know, as you know, Friends of Rachel collects, you know, new and very gently used clothes. So, anyone who needed an outfit for prom, they were invited to come in, pick out an entire outfit for free. Um, and that is still there. That is still an opportunity up to the day of prom. Um, but please understand that I will be the only one here on that day and I can't help you pick anything up. Just here you go. It might fit. All right. Um, and on the very last page of the board update are all the dates. We would love if you guys are able to come to any of them. I know there's a

010million of them. Um just a couple that I will point out right quick. Of course, you all invited to prom, which is May 2nd. The right of passage for the county um is on May 8th. We do have students in the senior class that have made their enlistment requirements, so they will be going and joining the military. Uh D. Yeah, they're all important, but um I will not invite you guys to senior locker cleanout. Not a great day. Um and of course uh graduation uh 61, that's uh at Spire 2:00. Hope to see you all there. If you have any questions, please let us know. And now for the real story. Well, thank you. Good evening. um the elementary and reporting for all three elementaryaries. We are very involved with our testing right now. It's

011a slow news month because it's testing testing testing. But we are our schedule. I think this week we could agree that we do like the way we set up our testing schedule. It seems like it's not so drawn out and we have a lot more time for our small group uh students to give them the attention that they need. So that's where we're at, but hopefully we'll be wrapping it up next week with science. You did mention kindergarten registration. We're getting ready for that, of course, trying to get the word out, make sure everybody knows that that is coming up. And then I do want to thank our uh high school, the PBIS committee, Mrs. Blebvens and Mrs. Uninger for the someone special dances. We had a lot of kids attend. Such a great night

012for them to go. Um, of course, I think I heard the boys were running around all over, which they like to do. Um, but it's it's fun. They put a lot of work into that and a lot of organization is involved. So, we appreciate them doing that for us and it gets all the kids together in the district, which is what's really special about it. So, thank you to them. I can't thank them enough. That's a lot of work. Some things happening at Cork. Um, some community events. We did have a coloring contest with the Harpersfield Fire with the Trumbull. I'm always saying Harpersfield, sorry, Trumbull Trumbull Volunteer Fire Department. And I'd like to say that Emily Neespranco and Anley Ruck won. They um won a $15 DQ gift card and they get to spend

013the day over the summer, one day over the summer doing firefight fire fighter activities. So, I want to look forward to that. Um and then the Harpersfield Harpersfield Rurans are going to be around tomorrow. They're bringing a special guest in the Easter Bunny. They do that every year. They bring bags of candy for all the kids or at school, which is so nice. And then they're going to be bringing our trees next week. We've been doing the tree. They've been doing the tree donation for over 30 years. It's been every year for that. So, our bus drivers that are here, you they're going to be bringing trees home. Sometimes I forget to tell them and they get on the bus with these huge trees. So, that doesn't always go over well, but I've learned. So,

014again, we we really thank our roans for all they do. And our fifth graders are working on their Memorial Day essays. We're trying to get those done earlier um because again, they give out a monetary award. Then our last day assembly, they come and hand out the to the winners, you know, and what they want. So it that's nice too. It gets the kids writing about the community and Memorial Day. And then our student council's been busy with the help of one of our parents, Mrs. Shamansky and Mrs. Jackham, the student council advisor. They felt it was time to refresh our mission statement. I think it's been years and years and years and years since we wrote one. And so if everybody doesn't mind, I'd like to share what they came up with. This was

015several meetings. It took them time. She had a template for them, a lot of discussion. and I sat in on a couple of them. It was very interesting to hear their comments. But our mission at Cork Elementary is to foster a safe and nurturing educational environment where students, teachers, staff, parents, and our principal collaborate to cultivate lifelong learners. We are committed to instilling values of kindness, respect. Hold on, I got to turn the page. Okay, I can't. passion, empowering our students to become responsible citizens who work hard and strive to do their best. Through meaningful education and building of lasting friendships, we prepare our students for a bright future, enriching our community and inspiring each individual to reach their fullest potential. So, they've worked very hard on that and as you can tell, there was

016a lot of adult adult support, but I'm proud of them. Um, they wanted to do it and they took that on. So, that right there tells you a lot. So, so that's what's happening at Cork and for the elementary. Thank you. You have any questions? Thanks, Missy. Good evening. Um, first and foremost, I'm really excited. The state has put out the drafts of the new special education documents and they finally have an IEP that's in the right order. So, we'll see if it lasts that way. there's still um a comment period and adjustments that need to be made. Um I went through each and every one of the documents one line at a time, removals, additions, um things that stayed the same. Um and for the most part, everything looked really good. I had a

017few comments that I'm going to share um with the state um from my perspective, but um it's long overdue, much needed, and I'm excited about um those changes. Um the other thing I want to mention is that April is autism awareness month. Um, and one thing in all of my years in education that, um, I think is changing is that we're seeing, um, people with disabilities more and more in mainstream media. Um, so I watch Survivor all 48 seasons I've watched. Um, now I don't get to watch them on the day they're on and I have to watch it in little pieces, but I still watch this season. Um, there's a girl on there, 24year-old Eva, who is a person with autism. And a couple weeks ago, it came to a head. Um, she had

018confided in one other contestant who ended up not ending up on her team when they did a switch. Um, that she did have autism and things that he could look for if she became overstimulated. Um, they were doing one of their challenges for immunity. They had to use some maze and get a ball to the end and into a little slot. She was struggling beyond belief. She's crying. She's screaming. Why can't I do this? She ended up getting it done. They got second place. They they won the second place immunity, whatever. But she was still very overstimulated. She's screaming. She's crying. Her teammates didn't know. They all came rushing to her and they're talking, talking, talking, touching her, talking, talking, talking. It's not helping. Joe, the member that she told knew and he's watching patiently.

019It's against the rules to go to another tribe. He watched and he watched and he watched and finally Jeff Probes said, "Joe, do you want to go?" So he did. She needed deep pressure. She needed a reminder to take those breaths. He was able to give that to her. Um, and she afterwards found it in herself to share her story that she was diagnosed when she was very young. um her parents were told by the doctor she would not amount to anything that she would probably be institutionalized. She's not going to be a good learner. She's a PhD candidate. So, she overcame. She had a a strong family and a strong community behind her. Um I gave you some links to the video and to Jess Prope's um response to what happened on the show.

020Um I've watched it probably 20 times and every time I get emotional because I think it's amazing. It's amazing that we've come that far. We have so much farther to go. But um cool story and I wanted to share that with you guys. Thank you. Okay. The interim superintendent recommends that the board approve the curriculum recommendation from SASC for the 2526 I'm sorry for the 2526 school year as presented in the attached summary. So move second roll call. Do we want Are you gonna Does she want to do you want her to give a Yeah, come on up. Just tell us a little bit about it, please. reading committee. Um yes, we formed a committee according to contract and we we do um we went through all different series. We went through all of the

021ones that were recommended as core curriculum for reading and it took a long time to do. Reading is it's a more difficult curriculum to adopt. It's a it's not just such, you know, right or wrong teaching. There's some emotional with to it and just different ways to teach. So, we took our time and made sure that we had a presentation with everyone. Um, so I feel like we did do our due diligence with that. We also have a rubric that was developed by Cessich last year. So, we used that as well. And, um, our teachers on the committee spent a lot of time. We had a lot of meetings. We had to meet after school because not enough subs to cover during the day. So, they really put a lot of time and dedication into

022looking at our series. Um the one that came up for K to2 undoubtedly was um Amplify CKLA and they reached out to neighboring districts who were using it, teachers that they know. Mrs. Sinko was on top of it looking up podcasts and having her social media contacts, you know, getting information because this is a lot of money that is being spent and we want to make sure that it's going to be something that's effective for our students. And I think we did come up with that. um 3 to five. We were a little worried because they're because amplify CKLA is really in involved in the skills level at the K to2 and then you're building on knowledge. It's knowledge building, background knowledge building, not on prior knowledge. It's more like creating that knowledge that the

023kids are are learning through reading. And um we were worried about if we adopted it going up to the upper grades, they missed all that foundation. Um so we were, you know, doing a couple of different recommendations, but Ces wanted us to just go full force. Um but when talking to our rep uh from Amplify, they do have a program and it's in the uh quote, if he shared that with you, called Boost, and it's included, well, it's not included. It's in the it's in the quote, but really that is designed to catch up the upper grades so that they are somewhat getting caught up on what they miss K to you know K to2 um you know even first grades that well first grade might be okay but second grade even I mean that's

024two years that they didn't have of it because it really builds on each other and the themes that they have I think Mrs. Cino shared those with you. The themes build throughout the years as well. Am I correct? Um and um and then the other thing we like that Mrs. Cinco came up with was that their tier 2 intervention was foundations and we have quite a few teachers trained in that and trained in Wilson and we're seeing that that does work. So that was a nice companion right there. I mean I thought that was excellent using what we already have and then building upon that. So Mrs. CO, do you have anything you want to add or no? If there are any questions, we were down to the wire because we had presentations and then

025there was a couple companies we wanted to have another presentation. So, um, we were down to the wire with it, but um, we wanted to make sure that we were doing, you know, the correct thing. It's going to be frustrating for the upper grades because, again, they haven't had the previous years. Um, and you're starting off with a whole new series again. Um, but the professional development coming along with it, I think, will help out. And I really was impressed with our rep. That was my question. Does this series come with professional development? Yes, it does. Yes. That's what we like to hear. Yeah. And Missy, the other thing, so when you posed that question to Amplify about the upper grades, would was that a question that they get often? Were they expecting that? And

026actually some of our teachers at the second presentation were saying um if we roll this out so some of we were thinking rolling it out some of teachers would still have wonders how can you connect that and the presenter had ideas and suggestions right off the bat right I mean right during that presentation which I think impressed all of us so that was nice and then that led to the conversation of this is what and Cessich was concerned about that so they asked me to go back and ask that question and I did and then that's what he came up with. So, I think everybody was really thinking and trying to get the best, you know, of what we can have. The all kindergarten teachers unanimously wanted it. I mean, there's some supplements that they

027would like to go along with it as well. Um, but it's I think it's not going to be easy for the upper grade teachers, but we'll make it work. I'm sure everybody will give their best effort. And yeah, this is a good one. um like K to2 really focuses on um like Mrs. Jordy was saying the knowledge strand and the skill strand. It's separate K to2 and then when they get to grades three to five it's integrated. So you're focusing mainly K1 and two on phmic awareness and phonics writing those things. And then you're still doing the knowledge strand getting them the background knowledge and the um subjects topics they're they spiral through the grade levels which is really cool. So that's why we were concerned with just, you know, rolling it out K to

028five, but with the supports hopefully. And I think what we're finding now as they push more of the science of reading out, we're finding that kids in the lower levels like prek, KA1, that we need to build that foundational knowledge because they're coming with so little experience experiences and real vocabulary and being read to and those conversations. And as teachers, we're hardwired to do all the things in a certain order. And I think it's just a new way of thinking for us as well. So, and that was big and I know Mrs. Cinco has talked for years about, you know, how important that is and it really does make a big difference in in the progression of reading and how you rolled it out for the young ones. And then that's like when we were

029trained in Wilson, that was nice because some of the kids that just kept going on um might not have had that foundation, but that Wilson's program then brought them up and we're seeing great strides in that. So that did bring them somewhat up to where they they're doing much better than they were. So I'm thrilled that there's PD with us. Yeah. Oh yes. How are the quantities determined in the quote? I'm not real sure what we give I give them the amount of teachers and they're looking at intervention specialists and that and then just an average of where we're at now and then bumping those classes up to next year. we're not really going to know for sure exactly like kindergarten is going to be hard but so we just gave I gave him kindergarten

030numbers for this year and again he's very workable. Um but the PD there is an initial where it's a whole day which I think we have in our calendar a day for that and then there's a lot there's a coaching system that goes with it where they'll come out perfect and then there is um there is also virtual and there's a lot of things in the programs and there's of course the online component that everything's online that you can purchase and I really liked in the upper grades they really have a a writing put in there there's a writing notebook. There's a lot of concentration on writing using that knowledge that you've built with your stories and writing. And so it really does twist all the speaking, listening, writing, reading all together in their lessons.

031Do we have any other districts in the county that are using this series? Buck guys using it is using it K to2. Um Lakeside Lakeside is Lakeside using it. Are they taking it on this year or do they already have it? I don't know that one this year. Well, Lake I can only speak for Lakeside. Lakeside just adopted it this year. Buckeye adopted it, I think, last year. And they did say it was a struggle for three to five, but they're getting through. It might be good to um yeah, kind of link arms with that. And Kirtland Hills as well. They're using it. So, and and I've worked I've met their curriculum direct director in the past and they know what they're doing. So, I felt I felt safe with that. Good. Good. And I

032felt safe with her information. Like, she really went above and beyond to do some research and and make sure that we were getting a product that was worth our while. excited for you guys. This is going to be awesome. Thank you. So, any other questions? Not a question. It's very nice to see the fact that there is an large amount of content that we're going to be covering. I mean, I'm looking at first grade and they're talking about American independence, the frontier explorers. Um, and that's pretty cool because I think before we never really touched on that until third grade, so I know a lot of people were really interested in the West, cowboys and Indians. Yeah. Some of some of our committee members were concerned about the topics and like, "Oh, is this too

033dry? The kids aren't going to like it." But then when we were going online and looking up stuff, many teachers were like, "We were surprised. They really liked it." And it was inner city kids, it was everybody. So, we're kind of hoping that that's the way it goes. But I think they are going to like it because they're introduced and then it keeps building each year somewhat, you know, around that and then they'll learn more and more. And I think that'll and then they have like in the upper grades they also have in there like where the students were finally getting getting to where the students are creating their own lessons and they're doing their own things. So there's like an online component for that too which they're going to be the explorers and go

034out and do what they need to do. So excited too. Thank you. Thank you so much for your hard work everybody. They did a great job. Yeah. Ready for vote? That's good. Mrs. Craig. Yes. Mrs. Milikin Dixon. Oh, we're voting. I apologize. Yes. Mrs. Ortiz. Yes. Mr. Pearson. Yes. And Mrs. Cyolski? Yes. The interim superintendent recommends approval of the enclosed resolution. A resolution adopting a memorandum of understanding with the Geneva Area Teachers Association regarding reduction in force. I need a motion, please. So move. I'll second discussion. This reduction in force is just moving someone from one area to another. Is that correct? As the class sizes go up, right? The big class is moving up to the next grade level. And so we need processing. Say again. Expediting the process. Yes. The reason I ask

035is if I was a parent and I saw this language, I'd be really concerned. Yeah. I It's a question. Thank you. And this first resolution is um is for the um I just want to make sure with the teachers association. So it's with Gata first um for anou for their contract. Any other discussion? Up really up against the wire on this. I I read this and I'm just going to I know. I wish we could label it differently because that's I do too. Is just I I for even get people to talk with GADA because if we could have we could have done this earlier, I don't think we would have even had to issue anou. And I don't like to be behind the ball. this board has been very good at being ahead of

036the game and being very transparent and I feel like we kind of have egg on our face with this. Um, I want to say that because there are people in this room that work under those situations that know a lot more than I do on this and I got kind of blindsided by saying that we're just going to to to move this position. Um, and we could have worked within the contract parameters probably earlier, not against the timeline where we would have needed anou if we had been ahead of the game which I think we had this this knowledge of ahead of time. So that's just where my frustration lies. I think that's conversations we can have. All right. Any other discussion? All right. Take a vote. Mrs. Milikin Dixon. Yes. Mrs. Ortiz. Yes. Mr.

037Pearson. Yes. Mrs. Cyolski. Yes. And Mrs. Crick. Yes. The interim superintendent recommends approval of the enclosed resolution. A resolution authorizing and implementing a reduction in force. I need a motion, please. So moved. Second. Uh discussion. I'm sorry. So what's the difference with the first one and this one then? Just the So the first one was for the teachers union and the second one is um in regards to the Ohio Revised Code. Um I'm looking at the whereas the interim superintendent I'm sorry recommends the board that it is consistent with the terms and conditions of the negotiated agreement Ohio law and the aformentioned effectuate the riff of one second grade teacher due to the decreased I need this explained to me. So why are there two differentus for the same thing or are they not the

038same thing? That's a what's the difference? That's a good question. So I don't understand the in my opinion I have to say that. Um three is a resolution adopting adopting theou with the GATA regarding this reduction in force. So we have an understanding that we have to ask them. Gata has rights and they have rights of course for certain due processes. is we go to GATA and say, "Gata, are you comfortable with us going past those due processes, do you think that this is fair? Here's a resolution. Do you accept it?" They have the ability as their members can look over and they can choose whether they'd like to do that or not. In this case, I believe that they most likely have already voted on it. And now we're agreeing to that. Now that

039we have their consent to go past that due process, now we can go ahead and say, "Hey, now that GAD and us are in compliance and we're not breaking the law, we're in compliance with OC and our bylaws. Now we're able to go ahead and effectuate RIF. Mr. King, you have something to add?" I was just going to say very simply, number three was to adopt. Number four is now to implement to implement. Oh, I just wish we I I would like to change the language. I understand all those pieces and parts of it, but when people see the words riff, they get a little panicky and that's not really what nobody's losing a job or a position. It's the way I've always explained it is that you're guaranteed a job, not a position. So,

040when you have, you know, staff and you you have to move teachers according to enrollment. So, I that's kind of how I when somebody asked me about it, that's what I you know, if you have a a third grade class that's excessively large and you need to have that teacher then move with the the size of the class, that's what happens. But, you know, that's a conversation we can have. Yeah, it's just a misnomer. I think confusing there. No frustrations lied with anyone. My fear is we have people in Harper's Field in in Austin that are gearing up to get ready for harvest and planning seasons and they're getting everything ready and then they find out that a second grade teacher is gone. What does that mean for them? What does it mean for their

041transport? And then I have them call them Missy. It's just nice to be out in front of that ahead of time. Any other discussion? All right. Mrs. Ortiz. Yes. Mr. Pearson. Yes. Mrs. Cyolski. Yes. Mrs. Craig. Yes. And Mrs. Milikin Dixon. Yes. The interim superintendent recommends approval for Geneva High School choir students to travel to New York City March 26 through the 29th of 2026. So moved. Second. discussion. Thank you, Mrs. Mather. Excited. This is an outstanding opportunity for our students and I thank you. Any other questions? Nope. Will the students have an opportunity to fund raise on their own? I see that the that probably gamba will help them fund raise to a certain extent. Right. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Any other discussion? All right. Mr. Pearson, yes. Mrs. Cyolski, yes. Mrs. Craig, yes. Mrs.

042Milickin Dixon, yes. And Mrs. Ortiz, yes. Thank you. The interim superintendent recommends the following new revised policies for board adoption. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Dave was going to talk about the technical correction piece. I think um and I just want to clarify that that policy is so that other policies don't have to come before the board for him to change things like if there's a grammar error or if it's from one thing to two things. It's any minor um technical corrections that the superintendent can just handle on their own without having to bring it to us. And I think that's a great step for efficiency. And I just wanted to um I thought I think Dave was supposed gonna mention that tonight. So, thank you Marty. A lot of these are just due to

043that flurry of December laws that were passed. Um specifically, we have released time for religious instruction during the school day. That's for people that might be parts of philanthropy in their local congregation. Um there are now OC carveouts for making sure that you're able to enact in that and engage in your faith. Um, I know that there's some local churches that that do that, which is nice. Um, and then of course, uh, things going for DEI policies. That's why you see a lot of the gender transfers, things like that. Um, and then related specifically to a lot of the transfer language is, uh, Ohio now allows military families to change interd district with a lot less friction than before because you, as you know, deployments can change pretty quickly. So, in order to make that

044a little bit more streamlined, that law was passed in December. We're approaching April. A lot of those have passed and then a lot of those laws will go in effect right around the June mark. So, that's why they're they're so long. Another piece I wanted to talk about was the medication, use of medication. Mrs. Burns, where did we land on that? Did you all have your meetings and conversations about that language and those forms? and she's interviewing hoping that there's a form. Okay, thank you. Perfect. Now that we have the policy, we can do the form to align with the policy. Correct. Perfect. Okay. Thank you for your work on that. Excellent. Perfect. All right. Anything else? All right. Mrs. Syibolski. Yes. Mrs. Craig. Yes. Mrs. Milikin Dixon. Yes. Mrs. Ortiz. Yes. And Mr. Pearson.

045Yes. The interim superintendent recommends that the following administrator's manager be hired on a three-year contract according to the administrator's manager's contract guidelines and subject to meeting certification requirements of the state of Ohio. So moved. Second discussion was the conversation. You're stuck with us Mr. Chowith and Miss Garnet and Mr. Bard. Um I know there was discussion about an IT position is that is Mr. Supergard's contract still within that. Is he still the IT guy within this building? Systems manager. Yes. Systems manager and a controller. Those are really broad ways to explain something that would also encompass that. Yeah. I was just curious because there was talk about splitting up those duties, but they're still within that as of right now. All right. Thank you. Anything else? All right. Roll, Mrs. Craig. Yes. Mrs. Milicanin Dixon.

046Yes. Mrs. Ortiz. Mr. Pearson. Yes. And Mrs. Syolski. Yes. The interim superintendent recommends the following personnel actions for the 2425 contract here. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Is there any movement on getting a boys basketball coach? I I think we're waiting for the board approval of the resignation. We're waiting on a posting right before you can post it. Correct. Okay. Yes. Right. Roll call. Mrs. Milikin Dixon. Yes. Mrs. Ortiz. Yes. Mr. Pearson. Yes. Mrs. Cyolski. Yes. And Mrs. Crick. Yes. The interim superintendent recommends the following personnel actions for the 2526 school year. So moved. Second. Any discussion? These are the standard non-renewal, correct? Yes. Anything? um retire rehire um and our federal funds individuals and then any long-term sub. Correct. I do want to make note that Mr. Ankram is retiring um effective October 15th

047of 2025 and he's worked here for 35 years. So, thank you to Mr. Ingram. Any other discussion? His girls golfers are going to miss him. I know. I had him when I was in school here. Thought I'd throw that little tidbit in. All right. Any other discussion? All right. Roll call, please. Mrs. Ortiz, yes. Mr. Pearson, yes. Mrs. Syolski, yes. Mrs. Craig, yes. And Mrs. Milikin Dixon, yes. The board will now engage in a conversation regarding a resolution authorizing the appointment of a superintendent and the approval of an employment contract for the superintendent. I need a motion, please. So moved. Second. discussion. Yeah, I think it was a great process. I think um we had wonderful candidates to choose from. Uh and I'm very excited about the way we went about it. I thought we

048were very transparent with our community and um I'm excited to be moving forward. Um just a great experience. We got to meet a lot of wonderful people. Um the whole process was very I I learned a lot. Um I got to experience people in different capacities which I think is the teacher in me. I'm just I enjoy those pieces of my profession just learning and experiencing things in a different way. And I am so so very excited to bring Dr. Lombardo to Geneva schools. His passion and his vision. Um, and what he's going to bring to us is is something that I'm just so excited to see. Um, I do have I have a little bit more that I do want to share, but I'll let everybody go ahead and Jamie, do you have anything

049to add? Um, so we have um, Mr. Ward, would you like to wait till after or do you want to Okay. Okay. Um, yeah. If you don't have anything else to add, Mr. Pearson, did you have anything you'd like to add? Yeah. I'm sorry for being so annoying and insisting that we have a search. We're used to it, and that's that's how I like to be. Thank you guys for being patient and showing up. I know you guys are busy. I know you guys have kids. I know you guys got jobs. I know you're doing a million other things. And that showing up for five or six one to four hour events isn't the most exhilarating thing. I mean, I like it, but having the community support in this, even though you guys are busy,

050shows us how important this is. And it mandates at that point that I and the others here are to take it seriously. I was very pleasantly surprised not only by the people I work with here for how professional they've been in this entire situation, but for the community whether they agreed with us or not to have those hard conversations and I am so glad that this is something that we can finally address on your behalf. Of course, communication stays open. We're still here to listen to you um and to be advocates for you, not just vote on how we feel. So, thank you guys for all your input along the way because it's been a ride for sure. That's all I have to say. All right. Anything else? All right. Take a vote. Mr. Pearson,

051yes. Mrs. Syibolski, yes. Mrs. Craig, yes. Mrs. Milikin Dixon, yes. And Mrs. Ortiz, yes. Welcome, Dr. Lombardo. Congratulations. Congratulations. [Music] Well, thank you so much. If it's okay, uh, my brother-in-law, Chief Scott Meyer for the Uclid Police Department. Want to say a couple words? Absolutely. Okay. Hello everyone. My name is Scott Meyer. I'm I am the chief of the Uclid Police Department, but I'm also Paul's brother-in-law. Um, we've known each other now for over 28 years. And I can first tell you that he is an amazing father, an amazing husband, and he's an amazing brother-in-law. I know a little something about public service, having been with Uclid now for almost 30 years, uh, nine as the chief, but I learned from my parents who are both public servants. It's a, uh, it's an honor and

052a privilege to be a public servant. Um, it is it's, um, it's it's a calling. if you don't have a passion for it, um you're not going to be successful. I know that Paul cares about the communities he serves. I know that he cares about deeply about the children, too. Um I have to say, too, that I'm uh incredibly impressed with um this community. Um I'm from a larger community and it's hard to get folks to um a lot of times show up unless there's controversy or something something major happens. So, um this is really Yeah, you probably see me on channel 8. So, um uh so I am I mean I I I was when I walked in I was amazed and you had commented on on your community. This is uh obviously an

053amazing community. Um I'm from a a family of again public servants, not police officers. They're mostly educators. They're mostly public school teachers. So um you know I'm I'm I'm excited about this. I know that Paul has all the skills uh necessary. Um, you know, he knows when to find common ground, uh, when to find consensus. Uh, he knows when, you know, you have to take a harder line. Um, he he he knows how to build that kind of that kind of um, you know, that trust and that community uh, in an environment where you can work together. So, I'm telling you, you guys made an amazing choice. Um, I'm super proud. U, I'm super excited and, uh, you've got the best candidate. So, thank you. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] speaker. All right. Well, this is

054really exciting. Um, so I'm going to try to make it through this. Okay. Uh, good evening, uh, President Craig, Treasure McDermott, board members, staff, family, and Geneva community members. I wanted to start by thanking my family and friends and educators, many of whom are attended here tonight, and they're sitting here, and I'm so proud um that they that they showed up, and I really appreciate them. I'm blessed to have a support system, not only at home, but also with those whom I spent time. I need them to know that I would not be standing here tonight if it weren't for the extra time they took with me, guiding me, believing in me, encouraging me, catching me when I fell, and holding me when I needed it. I want to give a special thanks to my

055wife Sarah who's right here. Sarah, uh, and my children, Jack, who's over there, and Maria. Uh, my son Daniel is at the Ohio State University. He's a freshman there, uh, finishing up his, uh, his finals. Uh, I love you all so very much. It is honor to stand before you as the newly appointed superintendent of Geneva Area City Schools. I extend my sincere gratitude to the board of education for your trust and support and to all those who have made my family and me feel so welcome. Throughout my career, I worked to embody servant leadership, believing that true leadership is grounded in humility, service, and a focus on others. I have learned that when invest in relationships, when we listen intentionally, and when we act with transparency, we build communities where everyone can thrive. As

056I begin my tenure, my leadership will be anchored by several commitments. One, building strong relationships with students, staff, parents, board members, and the community. Transparency and clear communication in all that we do. Listening and learning deeply to those closest to the work, especially our students. Being present, engaged, and accessible, both in celebrations and challenges, and elevating student voice, which is so important to me. ensuring our students perspectives inform our decisions and our vision for the future. Our collective success will come with working together, always keeping our students at the center. I am committed to honoring Geneva's proud traditions. That's very important to me. While partnering with you to reach even greater heights. Tonight is just the beginning. In the months ahead, I look forward to visiting classrooms, meeting with teachers, families, attending community events and

057working side by side with all of you to make Geneva Area City Schools the very best it can be. I really thank you for this opportunity to serve. I'm excited to begin this journey and I'm proud to now be part of the Geneva family. So, thank you so much. Thank you. All right. Report of the treasure. Um, good evening. Um, I do apologize. I did not let you know that the report was available in your drive, but March's uh, financial report is there. Um, also in my absence, I think when the agenda was written up, we did not take a vote on the February financials. So, when we do approve the financials tonight, it will be for both February and March. Um, in reading the financials, just so you know, on the first page, um,

058it does say that our uh, revenues were down for the month as compared to last year. Just know that that is a timing issue on our tax uh, our final tax settlement. Uh we did receive it April 3rd. I think it would have made my life a lot easier if they would have just given it a few days earlier, but county's not back giving. Um so again, financially we are right on track with the five-year forecast. Um next month may be a little different. Um next year, next month in May is the updated forecast for the year. I'm sure as you've heard on the news, it is a everchanging game on on our state funding, our state budget. So, uh, what went through today, uh, after the two-eek break might not be what is going

059through tomorrow. Um, so again, we are keeping on top of it in my office just to see, um, you know, where we're going with this. Um, there's talks about, you know, capping our carryover balance to 30% of our expenditures from the previous year. There's talk about capping the 20 mil floor. Um, so there are a lot of changes coming. Um and so again we are going to be working through that um and going going forward. So even though um you know May's forecast we'll have some updated information if the budget is not passed it may change and I think that's going to be like that obviously for every district out there. Uh the good news is is that once we do get the updated information we can submit another forecast um you know in between

060the times of the required May and uh November. So, you know, we will keep tweaking it as we go along. Um, but as of right now, again, looks like we're pretty much on schedule. Um, again, even the expenditures are a little skewed if you looked at the expenditures versus last year because the three pay month was in March last year and it wasn't this year. Um, Shel, I'm sorry. What's the title of it? I can't find it. It should be a separate thing underneath theformational items in the share drive. So, go in the the new BOE folder. Yep. and then in this agenda. Got it. Thank you. Um so again, the everchanging world of school finance is coming right back to you in May. Um and we will keep you posted and updated and um

061you know making our final expenditures for the last two months of the year. Thanks Shel. I guess we should take a motion and second. Sorry. Need a motion, please. So moved. Second. Do you want me to read the approval before we take a vote for the draft letter? Oh, well. Yeah. Let me take Let's take a vote for this. Mrs. Syalski, yes. Mrs. Craig, yes. Mrs. Milikin Dixon, yes. Mrs. Ortiz, yes. And Mr. Pierce, yes. [Music] I can do it. Go right ahead. So, um, next item is approval of the treasurer to draft a letter of support for Mr. and Mrs. Molina's variance application for a deck that would be built between them and the bus garage. Need a motion in a second, please. Moved. Second. So, describe this for me. Where where do they

062live? So, they live on 534 north of the bus garage property. Okay. So, they are close to our North Avenue. Correct. south of north of North Avenue. North of North Avenue. And so they would like to build a deck, but again that deck that they would like built is is within the bound with beyond the boundaries acceptable by the zoning. So again, it does say it again. It's going to be behind our fence. Yes. Nobody's going to even see it, right? And it's and it doesn't cross our property line at all. It just it infringes on that the little part. Yes. Um yeah, it is a zoning regulation. And so in order for them to get a variant, you know, they'll have to have a zoning hearing appeal to appeal the variance. And so you'll

063write a letter that says the school district is the school board supports that he can have this variance. Okay. Um and again, it's beyond Mr. Ola went and checked it and verified, you know, met with him to see where it was at. And again, it's very minimal of, you know, of the variance line. So, okay. Okay. Any other questions? Any other discussion? Okay. Mrs. Craig, yes. Mrs. Milikin Dixon, yes. Mrs. Ortiz, Mr. Pearson, yes. And Mrs. Cyolski, yes. Legislative report. Mr. Pearson. Speaking of being annoying, as earlier, um, I have a pretty lengthy report, I'm going to make it really short because none of this stuff has been voted on yet. I see a lot of politicians taking videos and telling us what's in it, but it hasn't been finalized. Um, first I want to

064talk about kind of the elephant in the room, which is Senate Bill 96. The yes, 20 mil floor, no renewal. Maybe it'll be funded, but it will be more money, but not as much money as as the governor has asked for, but still more money than you have now. Um, that bill is is barreling barreling through the House and Senate faster than most bills passed through federal government. Um, I have extreme concerns about this. I'll keep them to myself now because as of right now, it's not um materialized. I will say I'm really disappointed that years and years of work from our delegations and a and a bipartisan good Republican gentleman and a good uh Democratic gentleman worked tirelessly to make a a formula funding that we had worked on for over five years, maybe

065even closer to a decade behind the scenes and that our government officials who were elected saw fit to not just throw a wrench in it, but start it all from scratch undoing that bipartisan support. And now school funding is up in the air with parents, teachers, administration, and and the whole nine not understanding what the implications may be. Also not getting answers from our elected officials uh in both the 65th and the 99th districts which both oversee this school district. Um so I'm extremely frustrated in that and I I'd like answers to that. Um which I will continue to write to them and and ask for. Um we're looking at Senate Bill 7. Um this is going to be looking at short-term and chronic substance abuse. Um some of the curriculum that we had talked

066about last year as trying to stave off um obviously we have horrible addiction issues in a lot of rural parts of Ohio. Um this aims to um put that curriculum talking about opioids and opiates inside of the ODO former department of education then the department of educ uh education and workforce and now the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. Um they're going to be collaborating with uh Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services a bunch of uh evidence-based formulas to go through and try to talk about deterrence absence programs. Many of us have seen that there. Um this is a revised and updated version of those at a higher level. Uh Senate Bill 19. Um this is going to be talking about mathematics improvement and monitoring plans for each student that qualifies for intervention services

067with math. Um, beginning with the 2526 school year, this is going to require each district develop mathematics achievement improvement plans at 51% or less of the district school students who took the third grade math achievement assessment attained at least a proficient score on the on the assessment. That's a pretty big lift. And with curriculum guidelines coming down for the science of reading, I'm going to be watching this very uh very closely because this is another one of those bills where I wonder how many teachers or parents were in the room. 51% at its current weight across the state would mean a very hefty majority of the state probably would not be in compliance with this. I would imagine we'll see that that part of it change. Senate Bill 34. Um this is going to be

068um talking about historical educational documents to display in each social studies or history classroom. Uh that's grades 4 to 12. And these components are the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, the Mottos of the United States and Ohio, the Ten Commandments, the Magna Carta, which is a extremely interesting choice, the Bill of Rights, the US Constitution, and the Articles of Confederation. Uh I have a lot of problems with that. Um for the preservation of the Union, as well as the boys who died from the 51st Infantry, I don't think that in the school district we should be displaying the Articles of Confederation. Um, we won for the preservation of the union and many people's families and and ancestors in this area died. I think it was an extremely poor taste that anyone would put this in

069a bill. Um, and that's just a heavily held conviction that I have, I guess. Um, other than that, we have a bunch of ODO language talking about how to close schools. Basically, a bunch of schools weren't in compliance with state law. U, but they can't close them because they don't have anywhere else to put the kids. So, they're going to change the language in order for them not to close the schools to keep them operating even though they're not in compliance with the guidelines by changing the guidelines. Uh, that won't affect us. Um, but it will affect um some of the progress components on our state report cards. Those are reported to us by the administrators in the beginning. um the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce um will talk about improvement plans and if

070those criteria aren't met um they will need to close the school contract with a few of the ODO aggregates in order to come up with a plan as to why they should not close. uh they will need to replace the principal and a majority of licensed school staff, though this option only prevails over conflicting collective bargaining agreements or employment contracts entered into after the bill's effective date. Uh work with Odo uh for approved external service providers with expertise in school improvement. In the case of school building operated by a school district consolidates uh they will consolidate the school district and control the school building into another school district. If a district does so, SBOE must approve any resulting territory transfer. Um, so that's where the state is with education bills. This is just what's on

071my desk from April. Um, but there are probably close to 20 bills moving through right now with impact on education. So, as they become relevant to our district, I will keep an eye on them and let you guys know. That's it. Thanks, Brock. Thank you, Brock. A tech report. So, our meeting is on Monday. Um, signing night was April 10th. Senior awards ceremony is May 23rd, the last day for sophomores and juniors will be June 3rd. And there were several students that competed at Skills USA. And the chapter display they're bringing for the board to see on Monday morning um because they took they took the prize. So nice. Very good. All right. Time for public comments. Anyone has any comments, they're welcome to come up. State your name and address. Hi, good evening. My

072name is Sharon McDermott, 3844 Woodside Drive, Geneva, Ohio. I am a bus driver on bus 29 for Geneva schools. I am here today along with a few from the transportation department, excuse me, who take pride in transporting the children of this district. We want to speak of concerns with the board that have been compounding over time and are looking at potentially losing our director of maintenance and transportation, Scott Ola. It's going to be a huge loss to our district. June 2023, Scott started here and shortly after him came Tim Sperling, our head mechanic, and Joe Toth, our assistant mechanic, maintenance and sub bus driver. It was quickly noticed by all drivers that we had a strong team present that had the best interest for the drivers, children, and transportation overall. It actually seems similar to

073back in the 1990s, early 2000s when I first became a driver for Geneva when Ed Leech, Bill G, and Sandy Mater were there. Finally, things were looking positive. March 2024, two people's lives changed. Scott Olan and Dave Riley's. The new board was in place and major change happened which were campaigned on, needed, and most working in the district were aware were going to happen. Terry Treehorn and Charliner were put on paid administrative leave. Dave Riley was named interimm superintendent Scott to run the transportation department on his own. Dave advised Scott and to quote as closely as I can, "We trust you will take care of this department." Scott at one time mentioned, "Before this, all I knew about buses is that they were yellow. All drivers had his back and helped when asked, but Scott

074trained himself. Overall, things were going good, and I'm sure it was noticed because as months passed, Scott was given more and more work to do while having no other person in that office of bus route supervisor that was needed. I don't know what all additional work was put on him. I can only attest to the fact that with me being the last driver in every afternoon, Scott was always in his office giving his all to the demands coming from the board, the state, administration, transportation, maintenance, and the public because that is just who he is. He follows through. As months passed, myself and others began asking if they board and administration were working on replacing someone for route supervisor, which they were not because of your drown out investigations. February 2025, the board requested a

075research committee regarding redistricting. Transportation was a mainly to present if it were to work. After the evening of the first meeting, Scott came to my bus and asked my thoughts on it. I told him, "I want to know when someone made you assistant superintendent for all that is being asked for you to do from the meeting." He spent many late nights away from his family to comply with the request from the board. Additional meetings with Dave Riley working with him only to prove and thought of indefinitely tableabling redistricting. During this time, I purchased a G gazette newspaper and came to an article about Geneva bidding farewell to a valued employee. And the comment was made in Wait a minute. Hold on. In the article, a comment was made by board member Brock Pearson about a

076secretary, a position Scott lobbyed for and got approval and hired, but she was leaving and pursuing another career after being in the position for six months. and I quote from the article. So if you've had the pleasure or the disdain of having to speak to the bus garage, a person who's been holding it together by the fabric that hadn't existed from the previous 2 or 3 years, etc. I will stop there because all I have to say about this is the secretaries need a position, but that was not who what held it together. It was Scott, Tim, Joe, and all of us bus drivers. We felt this was very insulting to all of us and disrespectful disrespectful and this the start of where we are now with Scott departing. The final straw came at the

077candidate night. A select few were invited to with the four superintendent candidates. The question started with transportation as a subject and from what I gather the question asked by Michelle Craig was along the lines of pardon me. You have 30 seconds, Pat. 30 seconds. Okay, I will I will stop. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. There's more than that. I'd like to finish if I'm able. Otherwise, she's going to yield time her time back to me. Um, where was I? Oh, gathered. The question asked by Michelle Craig was along the lines of if you have a kindergarter who didn't want to go to school because they didn't know if there was a bus. Your time is up. She might as well continue what I'm going to continue saying. Um my understanding is you have five

078minutes. Well, we also understand that you also sometimes grant or she can yield her time. Typically, typically if the if if this session be Roberts rules is done, then we can vote to extend time. But right now, the the time isn't up. Um I don't have a problem with yielding. That's okay because I'm okay with having that conversation. But I don't think that we we don't have the ability we don't have the ability to like interrupt this and then because we're we'd be taking your time away and then vote on an extension right now. Realistically, I mean, if you want to yield your time, I don't think we have a rule that for forbids that. Yield my time tow when at the end of I'm gonna yield my time so you can finish talking. Okay.

079Will you let me? You can have another five minutes. Right. I have I might have two minutes. Two and a half. That's it. There's not much left. I won't sell on you. So, you're going to let me speak? Yeah. Oh, thank you. Okay. Where was I? kindergarter who didn't want to go to school because they didn't know if there was a bus coming or what time or who the driver was, etc. You get the picture. Basically, it was another insult and disrespect to Scott who is one of the first people to arrive every morning and last to leave and more importantly all of his drivers and mechanics who love and work hard transporting the kids. So, it should have it should have even been a much different question than was asked. We work very hard,

080take pride in our jobs, and are underst staffed, but we do everything we can to make sure we get the kids to and from school safely as best we can. All of our Wait, I'm so dry right now. It's like through my water. Um, where was I? All of our buses pass inspections and are safe and taken care of. We've gotten many new buses in case you didn't realize, Michelle, I'm aware. Thank you. Okay. Also, regarding the candidates tonight, it is my suggestion to the board with regards to a campaign promise. I really feel transparent needs to be front and center and I heard you say that as you've spoken but the problem is when it came to the superintendent choice the parents and the voting base they endured the issues with previous superintendent I

081would have liked to have gotten an invite for it. There was a lot of tax dollars given to Miss Treehorn with her departure and should not be viewed as a win. My one vote counts as well when it comes to getting a levy passed just as much as any everyone else. And another thought, why have and which is no longer really relevant, but I do want to say this. In my view, why after having an out of district choice last time and a few others when things did not go well would it not be a better stronger choice to go within the district to someone who knows the community and who has proven they are capable. Why wouldn't that be a better handling for the district? Because honestly, real quickly, I've talked to parents, they

082had no clue. I had no clue and I'm within, but I'm, you know, doing my thing. They had no clue which was unfortunate I felt and I felt like I had to speak this. Your moral character I feel is in question by the by the disrespect shown mainly to Scott Olaf for all he has done for this district and to the transportation department for doing whatever it takes to be sure the children are transported safely. It is amazes me how judgment can be passed when honestly none of you knows what transportation does or requires. Brock came to the department one time for about 20 minutes over a year ago. You have no idea what transportation I was there for over an hour. Was it over an hour? Yeah, I can provide that to you. That's

083fine. You know, I knew I knew you came, but I you know, um you have no idea what transportation is about, nor apparent desire to know. The only one that comes down to the bus garage and spent time is Dave Riley. I give him a lot of credit for that. I'm sure there is turmoil in other districts, but I only care about Geneva Area City District and want what is best for it. That process has begun with hiring Kathy Odigard as a new bus route supervisor and technology assistant, a position she fits into perfectly and will do a fantastic job at. Therefore, I hope to do the right thing and make the right decisions to keep the people here that have worked tirelessly to make this district a better place. There may be a simple

084way to avoid his departure. As I've thought about this, an apology can go a long way. It would show you do have moral character as sometimes we all have to apologize. And we are not perfect, but can become better with effort. Not suggesting this now here in this meeting, but effort should be considered very soon. Final note, if Scott does walk out the doors of the transportation department, I want it on record. It is not transportation's fault. it will fall on this board's shoulders for making the choices they have. We got blamed too much last time. We just heard too much and I just wanted you guys to hear this. We do not want to lose him. You guys don't want to lose me. He is wonderful. Thank you for the time and the extension.

085Thank [Applause] you. Anyone else like to speak? [Music] Oh, that was loud. Hi, my name is um Cam Dunan. I live at 151 Elm Street, Geneva, Ohio. I was not planning on uh speaking tonight, but I um first thank you for sharing that uh the autism awareness thing. A lot of people don't get the support that they need. So, thank you for sharing that. Now, I wanted to talk about I don't know if you guys talked about at the last board meeting. I was supposed to go to that one, but I didn't cuz it was very long. Um, I was looking at the agenda and I saw policy uh 7421. That is, if you don't know, uh, that is the restrooms, locker rooms, shower rooms, changing rooms thing for Ohio. Um, that would affect me.

086Um, it would affect so many people at the school and so many people around the school, uh, like around the area. I just need to know and want to know your stance on it. And I don't know if you talked about it at the last board meeting or you guys um sorry I'm saying guys a lot. You um breezed past it in this one as well. I don't know if that's a because it's a new policy and you don't really have to talk about it, but seeing you guys breeze past it and not acknowledge it at all really hurtful. And um I don't know if you can't physically talk about it, but just seeing it and being like it's not okay. So the way that policies work is that they h they have to be

087read so many times in an open meeting before we can approve them. Okay. And then apply them to our district. Okay. So Niola is who handles our board policy. So in order for those changes to be adopted by our board, they have to be on our public agenda three times for us. So it's presented. So it's not us passing them by. Okay. So as a board we get those updates sent to us in our drive and then we read through them. So for example the um the spring updates for Niola um are there's 86 pages worth. Okay. So as board members we get those shared with us and then we go through and read the changes. They typically highlight the changes so that and they strike through what's going away and then they highlight what's

088new. Okay. So after we go through and read all of those then we vote on them. So it's not us skipping through them. Okay. Um so what I would ask you to do is I would ask you to email us your concerns. I I I will Oh, I I definitely will. I definitely will. So, I not that I'm I'm not trying to pass it by, but I don't want you to be put in a position where you have to stand here at the microphone during public speaking and share all your concerns. I want to hear your concerns, okay? But I think it would be a better approach for you to sum, you know, summarize it in an email. And if you don't want to share it with all of us, that's fine. If you want

089to just send it to me or you don't want to send it to me and you want to send it to somebody else, that's fine. but let us know what they are and then I can go through that policy or whomever you decide to send it to and I can help like itemize the areas that you're concerned about. Okay. Okay. So, please know that we're not skimming over it. Okay. That's kind of how it rolls out and that's how we address it. Okay. And I'm not trying to take up your time. If you want to talk more, you can. No, it's fine. Okay. Mr. King, you have something you want to say? I'm just going to jump in. I apologize. Basically, all this policy says that when we have a sporting event, we're going to

090label the restrooms for supposed to change. Okay, good. Doesn't do anything like that. This is to make sure that those lakeside people go. Okay, good. As it should. Okay. Okay. As it should. But feel free to email if you would like a little bit more depth into that. We're happy to do that. Okay. Thank you. You're welcome. Do you know where to find the policies, Miss Duncan? Yes. You know where to find them on our website? Yep. And I much easier now. So you can read it yourself. And what's your what's your graduation year? Uh 26. Okay. So I'm I've got your name and your graduation year. So I can send you the link to the policies. If I don't hear from you in a little bit, I'll send it your way. Okay. You'll probably

091hear from me tomorrow. Perfect. So all right. Thank you. All right. Anyone else for public comment? All right. Board member comments. So, I have a favor to ask. I I I need a scavenger hunt done because Mr. King and I have looked everywhere. So in 2019 December Christmas break of um the group that I founded with Margie Netzel and Michelle Williams Geneva Geneva parents for school safety. We had raised $82,000 and got um door barricades installed in each for each of our classroom doors for if there is an emergency that we need to have a lockdown. It's a very simple thing, a very simple machine and you can be secure in the classroom that you're in. So then March of 2020, all the schools got shut down because of the plague. So, the plan was

092to install them and then we had promised everyone who donated above a certain dollar amount that they could have a name plate on a door at the school of their choosing that says, for example, Milicanin Dixon family sponsored this door. And I did give myself one because, you know, I did the heavy lifting. So now, so they're all in the elementary schools and the middle school and they're up and they're beautiful and we're so grateful uh to the school that the school staff that helped us do that. The issue is we cannot find the high school ones. The door plates that were supposed to be placed here in the high school are missing. So I wanted to bring this out to the public and just say, please help me look for these. If anyone knows

093anything about where these went because otherwise I'm going to have to take the entire list and go through each school. I mean, I'll make Michael do it. Go through each school. No, I I'll do it and say, "Okay, the Ortiz one is here. Check. The Milicanin one is here. Check." And I don't want to have to do all that because I do have a job and I am on the board and I'm a busy lady. So, if anybody knows, and so please spread the word. Look for these door name plates. They're gold and they have someone's name on it that says, "Thank you for donating to the school barricades." Um, feel free to email me um if you have any questions or anything like that, but I just wanted to put it out to everybody.

094I thought the bigger the net that I throw, maybe these will turn up. So, thank you. Do you have any comments? Yeah, I have a comment. April 26th is the Geneva AC the Geneva Academic Booster Club Adult Spelling Bee. It's going to be fantastic. We have a team of Michelle and I and a couple of our um I saw one of them here. Where's she at? Mrs. Simmons. There she is. Mrs. Simmons and we're bringing on a student cuz we might need a little help. Yeah. But we will be hopefully the reigning 2025 ABC spelling bee champions. Look out there practicing. It's coming. We're coming in hot. So if you're interested in attending uh actually if you're interested we could use more teams and more sponsorships. um the academic boosters for in case you don't

095know, they're the ones who provide all of the academic letters every year to our 3.5 and above students. Um they get a letter, then a pin, and then a lamp and then cords at graduation. They also provide quiz bowl patches. They provide um teachers with uh classroom project help. So scholar Oh yes, scholarships. Um 10, right? 10 $500 scholarships. Um, and it's just a a very important boo one of our very important booster clubs. And um, they're really looking for support for this year's spelling be. So, if anyone's available April 26th, uh, we would love to see you. We would love to compete against you. Right. That's right. Bring it. We're ready. Um, so, but thank you to the to the academic boosters for all that they do. Um, that's a it's a fun night.

096It is fun. I did it three years and I can't do it this year. Um, and so you guys have fun. It'll be fun. And I'll be cheering for you from Kent. All right. Um, I'm glad you said that. That was one of my items so that I don't have to say that. So, um, I have a a quite a little laundry list of things I was going to talk about. Um, to go back to Mr. Pearson's discussion about all the pieces and parts of funding. Um, I was my husband's plus one at a local event this past week and the speakers were Mr. Thomas and Sarah Feller Arthur. And I don't know, I probably won't be invited back there again, but um I I think it might be a great idea to invite Dr.

097Patterson and and uh Mr. cup here with them and have an event this summer and really hash it out and see what we can what we can bring to our community and that school funding discussion. I just wanted to throw it out there. It might be something that we could host that I think our community could really benefit from. Um on just throwing that out there on another note um so on April 3rd we had another facility stakeholder meeting for the athletic facility. I'm not going to say a whole lot about it because it's an item on the agenda. So we'll talk more about that then. Um on I don't think I put the date. I think it was April 6th or 7th. Um the public I work in Trumble County so I see a

098lot of the things that happen down there. Um the public library of Youngstown in Mahoning County had a like a Facebook live event on understanding levies and bonds and it was hosted by the League of Women Voters which I absolutely love the League of Women Voters um of Greater Youngstown. So it was really informative. I didn't go in person. and it was like a Facebook live. So, I just stayed after school inside of my classroom and listened to it. It was pretty good, very informative. Um, I kind of would like to reach out to them and see if they would do something in our area. I think that's another piece that our community could really benefit from that understanding the pieces and parts. I was going to share that with you and I ran out

099of time before the meeting. Um, another item of interest and celebration is Mr. King was elected to the um OASSA board of directors. Um that stands for the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators, and he was elected for a three-year term beginning August 1 of this year. Um he's been a member for 13 years, contributing to the advancement of secondary education for public schools across Ohio. His leadership has included multiple terms of service on both the fall conference committee and the legislative committee. In 2022, he helped launch a key initiative um principal advocacy day at the Ohio State House where school leaders from across the state come together to advocate for policies that support student success and school improvement in Ohio's public schools. Um as a newly elected board member, Mr. King brings a passion

100for public education and a strong commitment to representing the needs of public schools, especially those within the Appalachian region of Ohio, which is where we are. Um, his goal is to further the mission of OASSA by addressing both promise and the unique challenges facing secondary schools in these communities. Congratulations, Mr. King. Yay. [Music] [Applause] So, I was going to talk a little bit about the candidates, Nate, but all the people that I was going to address, I see have left. So, but I'll share again. Maybe they'll watch it on video. Um, so there seems to be a lot of conversation surrounding the candidates night that the board hosted on the evening of March 20th here in the auditorium. I have had many rumors carried to me, but in typical fashion, no one has actually came

101directly to me um and asked me anything about the evening. No one has asked why we decided on this format. However, I have shared countless times what our purpose was, how we selected questions, or how any of the processes were handled. If they had, I would have been happy, as would any board member, to have answered them. I will provide a brief summary here tonight. Again, um after our first round of interviews, the second round was determined to be a meet the candidate style event. This was shared at the March board meeting. In order to host this type of event, I was directed by council that it had to be noticed as an executive session. As a board, we started creating a list of possible guests and collecting emails. Invited guests were permitted to bring

102one guest. Each person needed to sign in at the door. The evening consisted of one sealed envelope question that none of the candidates had access to until they joined us on stage. Mrs. Ortiz had suggested earlier that we create a question centered around busing. As that seems to be a continuous issue in our district, I began working on a hypothetical question that would be equitable for all four candidates, including those that were not internal. our internal candidates would have access to information that ex external candidates would not and it was stressed to me by legal counsel that all questions must be equitable and asked to all candidates. The second portion of the evening was a roundrobin style of questions that were submitted by the guests that attended that evening. Each candidate had four minutes to

103answer the questions. Each candidate was then given the opportunity to share closing comments. At the close of the evening, we had cookies and time to chat in the cafeteria. Candidates were encouraged to stay and mingle if they would like to, and most did. The following day, a blind survey was sent to those that were invited to the candidates night, and we had a 65% response rate, which is amazing because a typical response rate on a survey is between five and 35%. Attendees were asked how they felt about being invited, how they would rank candidates, and how did their participation in this event impact the likelihood that you will continue to support Geneva schools. 69.2% of respondents stated that they were more likely to support our district off of this one event where stakeholders were invited

104and included in the process. Who did we invite? Not just employees. We invited union representatives and leadership, some community members, some retired teachers, elected officials from Austinberg, Harperfield, Trumbull, and Geneva Township, the Village of Geneva on the Lake, Geneva City Council members, Geneva business women members, Geneva Chamber members, retired members of the community that still pay taxes here, business owners. So why do we do all of this? Why go to all this trouble? Transparency. It matters. This community, most recently led by Mr. Pearson and myself, standing at that microphone, asked for transparency over and over and over again. We ran for these positions. Now, we are delivering on what we said this community had asked for over and over again. Many of you here don't remember Robert Taylor. Some of you do. I've been here

105in Geneva for a really, really long time. He was a superintendent while I was in school. And just like the seniors that come to these meetings at the end of the school year and then asked for our signature saying that they were here at a community meeting. Um he said this when I was a senior and it has stuck with me my entire life. You pass levies every day by how you treat people and their children. So, when I pose a question about a little kindergarten girl named Sally Smith that doesn't want to go get on the bus because she doesn't know what bus it's going to be. That's what I'm talking about. I'm not picking on bus drivers. I'm saying we have tools here that we're not using. That's the problem. So, if that

106upsets people, I'm sorry. I told a dear friend today that there has been no discipline in our district. Discipline is not yelling and screaming and threatening people. Discipline is goals and objectives. Discipline is accountability. Discipline is conversation and expectations. Discipline is adjusting goals and meeting the needs of many, not the desires of a select few. That's what we're doing here. were becoming disciplined. So, if there's questions about what we did at a candidates's night, the person that's probably going to give you the answers are the ones that are sitting up here. It's not going to be in the hallway at the school or in a classroom or wherever you're going for your information. The people that are probably going to have the answers are the ones sitting up here. And I would absolutely love to

107have that conversation with you as we all would. I think I think so. That's all I have. [Applause] So, we need to add to the agenda. We need to add the I have that on the air. I'm so sorry. We need So I'm not sure who all is going, but we need to have a motion for next Tuesday night's training at the ESC for board members in Asheville County. So I would like to make that motion. Second discussion. I will be attending. Skip in board member reports. This is board member report. This is board me reports right now and then we'll come back to the last items on the agenda. Okay. Just hold up. I hear you. Any discussion about that? This is the professional development that the county's um putting on at at a

108tech. Perfect. Any discussion about that? I am attending. I am as well. I am as well. It's in the air, but I'm going to try. We went last year. It's really really cool. Yeah. And I like what they did this year by pushing out and asking what we wanted to hear about. And so I'm excited. Take a vote. Take a vote. Let's go. Mrs. Milikin Dixon. Yes. Mrs. Ortiz. Yes. Mr. Pearson, yes. Mrs. Syolski, yes. Mrs. Crick, yes. All right. Any other board member comments? Are you good, Brock? You got some? I am. Okay. When the busing issues first started, the first people I went to were bus drivers because bus drivers in between getting their medical card, in between getting their ODOT certification, in between looking at which class CDL is compliant, and also

109going into Oopsie and working inside of the cafeterias and top of working the Pony Express. The reason that I made the comment, thank you for holding this together and being the glue that does that with communication is because I not just appreciate and and am appalled by how good the bus drivers do their job. I also don't want you guys to be answering phone calls while you're driving. And you have done that before. I have seen it firsthand what happens when someone doesn't complete the information that they need on bus drop offs and you're asking a seven-year-old where they live because no one else is going to drive that bus for you. I know what the medical compliance looks like. I know what that routing software does. Scott does a good job. We can't make

110four of him by any vote that we do up here. We can't clone you guys and make more routes of the 15 that we have and make sure that the buses are maintained and make sure that we're we're servicing diesel and and turbo diesel equipment that basically runs hundreds of thousands and some millions of miles. I take that very seriously that no one came to us first and asked if we have any critique of the bus drivers. No, you guys have done too much historically and we're trying to take some of that off of your plate because you are human beings who have lives. I'm very frustrated at what I heard, not just for being misqued, because that's a personal thing, but because there's been a lot of directive by a certain select few, that

111no matter what bilateral progress is completed, that there are always complaints that occur without letting anyone know. And if you have ever made a complaint to someone hoping for real change, there are two different types that typically in in uh in our American culture we do. There is complaining to vent and then there is complaining for change. And if you've ever misconstrued the two with let's say someone that you love, you'll very quickly identify that there is a large pjorative difference between both of them. If you would like to vent, I have no problem with that and I will not stop you and I'm not adverse to being criticized. That's okay. But what frustrates me is if we are worried about the children which is the ultimate directive that we are given up here then

112I would not like to know who is in charge and and how we feel about that. I would like to know how can we best move forward together in an amicable way that provides services for the taxpayers of this district and how do we most efficiently while also counting the humanity of the families and the children of this district take that into account. I am appalled that a response rate over 90% of the 65 that have given us the answer mandated that we make a decision. This data was not on the line of of being between candidates. There was a clear pattern in the responses that we had received. We made a decision at least I can say in my opinion based on that data that was a mandate. If we had made another decision

113there would have been no point to invite the public to come here that day. That is what a delegate as opposed to political means. A delegate is someone who represents a you utilitarian the best choice for the best number of people in a in a republic. That's how it works. So, I'm not opposed to the criticisms. I did not receive one email talking about a slurry of what I heard. And for people who asked questions that have very real answers, I'm also extremely frustrated that now I don't even have the ability to answer them. Those who have emailed me, whether you like me or you dislike me or anyone on this board, one thing can be said for this board, everyone sitting at this table, they respond. We don't hide behind my lawyer will get

114back to you. We don't say it's not my problem. There's a parent here who told me that at the end of a redistricting meeting there was a conversation about why we were having conversations about redistricting. There wasn't an answer of because there is a trailer park in Austin that gets bust all the way over in no linear sense. And when we got to the bottom of it, there is a talk about well do we want to do open enrollment versus redistricting which would have been the answer to the question. Instead, a group of people were told that because the board asked me to and that was the end of it. Parents in the hallway got no answer. And when they reached out to me on an individual basis, I was able to answer that and

115we were able to get them to counsel and President Craig and the other people at this table who helped make those decisions. We are accessible. We are here to listen to you whether you hate us, whether you like us, whatever. But we cannot get behind the figurative eightball and predict what issues are here. You are professionals because you know more than us. That's why we ask you these things. If you don't let us know that there is a problem, we aren't either. And so what I would ask humbly is before getting up to the microphone and making quotes about someone for a problem that they didn't know existed. Feel welcome to come here first because if we can't solve it, get up there and absolutely flame me. But until then, I don't know the problem

116that we need to address. I don't know who to bring it to. I don't know where the best area or maybe it's it's not my wheelhouse. But this is something that this is the third time I've seen something on social media or Facebook rallying people to a cause that no one went to the board about. No one asked anyone to help solve, but they were here to ask that question and not hear the response. That frustrates me. And so that's all I have to say. Anything else? All right. Redistricting alignment discussion. Is it already? All right. Well, you get to hear me some more tonight. Um, I'm just going to give a quick summary. I think where we're at with this at this point is we're going to take a look at where um with

117the quick conversation with Mr. Riley that I had last Friday on how we're going to accept open enrollment. So nothing is going to change as far as busing or moving kids to buildings or whatever. However that when we had all those redistricting meetings had those conversations the things that you know that u Mrs. McDermott spoke about at the microphone. Um, again, that was coming together because we were trying to figure out how to best serve students. And again, our job as a board is to implement best practice across the board in every facet. How do we serve children best? And we have schools that are like there's no room at the end and we have other schools that have room. So, we're trying to figure out how we can disperse these students and have them

118get the most appropriate and equitable education where we've got studenttoteer ratios that are appropriate so kids can get the services that they need. Teachers can meet the needs of their their students. And so th those meetings happen because it doesn't serve anyone for us to sit up here at this table and say, "Okay, well, we're going to do this." And not consult a teacher or a bus driver or a principal. you have to bring you have to link arms with people and you have to sit at the table and you have to have hard conversations and then people get mad. It it is what it is. Um but I think what we what we learned from those conversations is that we really have to start controlling our open enrollment and where those kids end up.

119We might have to move some lines as far as like uh Mr. Pearson stated with um we have a trailer park on 307 that could be like right on the cusp of Austinberg and Cork. There might be a few kids in there that we can move. We might be able to look at where we have kindergarters come in for open enrollment. So those are conversations that we're going to have and we'll go from there. Um but that's where that stands right now. I don't foresee this being on the agenda again. [Music] Okay. All right. The other piece of it though, Mrs. that I had asked um be looked into was the time that we start the day. Yes. And so I've been reading a lot of studies recently um saying that adolescence and what's developmentally

120appropriate for them is not to have to learn higher math at 7:10 in the morning. I'm just picking a time out of a hat. I don't know what time we actually Nobody wants to be math in at 7 and it's not it's not developmentally appropriate. if they're going to be child- centered, we need to recognize I do how adolescence learn best and what we can do to help them do that. And so we've heard a lot of concerns about um not having if if we flip, right? if the high school goes later and the elementary goes earlier because the flip of that is that younger children do do better earlier in the morning. But that then causes a lot for families with older children who help watch the younger children. And my response to that

121is if we just shift the entire thing south that it doesn't change anything. If we start later and end later and start later and end later, it's all relative. And so the same amount of time after school, maybe even less time, because if I get off work at 6:00 and I'm home at 6:45, if my students got home later, if my my my children, I mean, then they would have less time there without a parent. And so I just want to clarify that a little bit because it's not I'm not suggesting that you don't have the older sibling available to you anymore. I just um and so I want to address that but I I do still want to talk about that. So the issue I do still want to work on that. So the

122issue um because I was on the same path as you. I feel like teenagers get up way too early, they go to bed way too late and they get way too grumpy. I have two in my house. And so anyway, where you run into problems with that is athletics and after school activities because you have to get to am I right? The athletic director goes be because it's already difficult to get to these athletic events on time getting out at 210. Um, and the last thing we want to do is have our student athletes leaving school early because they have to get somewhere. Well, that could all be negotiated though, right, Jennifer? I mean, can't we figure that out and work that out? There are lots of other parts. No, I understand there are moving

123parts and I get that. Um and so so for me if it's a question of academic success not disagreeing. Yeah. Not disagreeing. I get it. Not disagreeing. Yeah. But there are Yeah. There. Believe me, like I said, I'm on the labor train as well. But when they did this flip when they flipped it to make it what it is now, I was in eighth grade because it used to be that way. Yeah. It used to be. Do you remember? I do. I was going to say because it used to be that way and they flipped it out 310. Yeah, exactly. 309 actually was like I remember 8th period was 2004 was the when the bell rang for 8th period and then they and they flipped it because of what we're doing now like sports and

124all the travel and all those things. So, I mean, we can definitely have those discussions, but I I wanted to reassure families that it's not going to be the like shifting grades to one building, that piece of it, because I think that's what every when they see that. I mean, in a perfect world, if I could twitch my nose and make all that work, I would. But, well, it's the same thing Mr. Pearson was saying about Yeah. Ask us. Yeah. It was this panic. I know. That that in August everyone's going to have to go to a different school. Yeah. No, we were talking about it and gaining information and and and learning. Again, you just have to bring everybody together because otherwise you don't know, right? Okay. No, not everybody has to go to

125a different school next year. Okay. Are we good on that? All right. Athletic facility facility discussion. Do you want to say when do we break ground? So, um don't do this to me. We have had what two meetings now with with the community. Uh the next meeting with the community group that we have is on May 1st. Um I know we're looking at you know what we wanted to what the district as a whole would like to have as the you know as as the main base of our facility. Um we are currently working with the con um the contractor to get a price on that kind of narrowing it down. you know, we kind of have like an alle cart thing of, you know, if we want a track, if we want a stadium,

126if we want the you know, like so we're kind of building it to see um the cost of it. Um I will say today I did have a conversation with the municipal advisor. Um it's someone that I worked with in a prior district. So with that um once there's there's a few things that we need to know before we know the cost to the taxpayer. Um is the year is the life that we can go out for the bond issuance. Um so if it's 25 years or is you know is it 20 years is it 30 years um for that. So that is still an unknown. We do have our legal construction firm working on that because again a track may have a more of a life than you know the parking lot which has

127more of a useful life than a the bleachers themselves or the turf. Yes. So everything. So we do have to come up with that. We have to come up with the interest rate. So if anyone knows about interest rates lately yeah that's hard to pin down but we are kind of you know again this is what these people do. you know, we're going to plug in an interest rate. Um, also, how much of the facility is going to go out for the bond issuance? Um, so, you know, there's that conversation. So, you know, hopefully at the December, I'm sorry, December, let's go to May, May 1st meeting, um, we'll have more of that information. And so, with this group, we'll be able to see, you know, what again it would cost. Also that plays into

128that is right now there's still a few years left on the bond issuance for all the buildings, right? So it's getting that and as that rolls off what that does to the millillage as we go out. Um can we reduce some of that millage right now? Um and then you know again so it might be higher for two years and then it goes off you know goes down. So we're going to kind of have that millillage model also at that meeting you know just to kind of discuss and see where we're at. So um exciting. Uh hopefully then after the 1st we will have some kind of renderings that can be presented at the May board meeting. So uh between that and the forecast I think that May meeting is going to be just a

129little monkey just a short meeting. So uh bring your pillows but um so we'll have more information then but again you know still continuing with the process um in an exciting time. Awesome. Thanks Sean. Math at 8:00 PM. Yeah, good times. All right. Pay to participate. Discussion. I move we suspend it for another school year. Second discussion. Thank you for for calling it and supporting the schools when busing was on the ropes. There are obviously a lot of things still on the line, but I think that the parents made it very clear that this helped out. participation and participation went way up. I mean, way up when you guys shared the pictures of of the the the athletic meeting where people were in the hallway, that was probably the it's my in my in my

130tenure on the board, that was the coolest thing for me. And I think even though we're missing some levy monies and even though the state budget is in flux, that's an understatement. Um, you know, I we have to let's keep this off the books until we have to really reconsider it. Student athletes and parents, this was a great move on our part and we need to keep it up. Yeah, I agree. And I know um I think the reason why this was put on just to start to have the conversation, I think we can wait and vote on this in May. If you want to pull it off and just So, do we need to wait? And that's I was just curious when I had spoke to Mr. Riley on Friday, he was going to

131reach out to Miss Crosley and I want I was curious of what the comparison I'm I'm good for suspending it, but I I was curious to see what the enrollment in athletics was compared to when we had pay to play versus suspending it and how many more athletes we had because I know it had to have increased. Well, I mean, we can still talk. Absolutely. Absolutely. I think we just get this taken care of. I think I Yeah, that's fine. Let's get it done. Let's do it. So, we have motions. Any other discussion? Discussion. Any other any other discussion? Y'all good? I'm good. Mrs. Milikin Dixon? Yes. Mrs. Ortiz? Yes. Mr. Pearson? Yes. Mrs. Cybolski? Yes. And Mrs. Craig? Yes. All right. I need a motion to adjurnn. Some second. Roll call. Mrs. Milan Dixon.

132Yes. Mrs. Ortiz. Yes. Mr. Pearson, yes. Mrs. Cyolski, yes. Mrs. Craig, yes. Oh, that's meeting adjourned.