001Good afternoon. I'd like to open up a special board meeting for Thursday, April 9th, 2026 for the Community Home School Board of Education. Uh Treasurer, could you please call the roll, please? Mr. Vasquez. Here. Mr. Barton. Here. Mrs. Marvin. Here. Mr. Barnes. Present. Mrs. Skirkanich. Here. That concludes Commissioner Vision. Yes, keep the vision by innovating and creating opportunities. Make sure each student is prepared for the future Our reason we do what we do is to live purposeful lives. Thank you. At this time, I'd like to request a motion to enter into executive session for one, to consider the employment of a public employee or official and for three cents. Number two, preparing or conducting or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning the compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment. So
002moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, Treasurer, please call the roll. Mr. Vasquez. Yes. Mr. Barton. Yes. Mrs. Marvin. Yes. Mr. Barnes. Yes. Mrs. Skirkanich. Yes. Thank you. This meeting is adjourned. >> Okay, I'd like to request a motion to be convened in executive session please. So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing none, Treasurer, please call the roll. Mr. Raskauskas? Yes. Mr. Parker? Yes. Mr. Harvey? Yes. Ms. Barnes? Yes. Ms. Skelton? Yes. Thank you. Um at this time uh I'd like to share some news regarding our nutrition team. Uh our Treasurer, Ryan Shelton, has decided to step down from this position effective July 1st. I'm asking you Mr. Shelton and Parker to go ahead and read the resolution. Thank you, Madam President. The acceptance of resignation of
003Treasurer/CFO Whereas the Board of Education of the City of Public Schools has received the written resignation of Ryan S. Shelton who currently serves as Treasurer/CFO of the district Whereas Ryan S. Shelton has indicated resignation to be effective July 1st, Whereas the Board of Education wishes to formally accept this resignation Now therefore be it resolved by the Board of Education of the City of Public Schools that Section 1 the resignation of Ryan S. Shelton, Treasurer/CFO, is hereby accepted effective July 1st, 2026 Section 2, this Board finds and declares that all action of this board related to the adoption of this resolution was taken in that all deliberations of this board that resulted in those formal actions were held in meetings open to the public in compliance with the law. Section three, this resolution shall be in
004full force effective from and immediately upon its adoption. Thank you. Do we have a motion? So moved. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Discussion. I just wanted to say thank you, Ryan, for all your work you have done for the public schools on behalf of the board, students, and families. I kind of represent all of 30. Um I can never understand how personal I will never try to, but I know that you did your best um to make sure that we had what we needed to provide for our students and our community. Um and I appreciate that you and I hope you know that you are valued. You are still going to be valued and after and it showed how you received national and state awards for your outstanding um the county numbers and stuff
005that you did. Um so I just wanted you to know um we are definitely going to be sad to see you leave. Um but I want to say I'm happy to see you say yes to yourself and your family and hopefully you'll be able to take time resting knowing that you did a very good job. Thank you, Ms. Barnes. Anyone else? Madam President. Yes. Thank you so much, Ms. Polanco and Ms. Rochelle for your years of service to PPS and the great work that you have done. We are better because of your time here in the district. We wish you great success and we look forward. Enjoy your retirement. Uh Yeah, I just my thanks. Thanks to Mr. Special Ed and Futures. I know that the last one you one of the first couple of
006years I was on the board we had to hire a treasurer which is a peculiar task if I pronounced that right. So, I'm not looking forward to getting into that um that process again but I think we're going to hear more about that here in a moment too. But just thank you for your service to public education in all of the years that you've Yeah, thank you for your dedicated service over the past years. Um it's hard to believe that we're at this point right now. Um I remember when you first came in you were on the board. Um you were certainly a valuable member of our leadership team. So, we we thank you for your service. Um In particular, we want to recognize how instrumental you've been in highlighting the challenges facing school districts
007today because of the continuing mandates and legislative changes that come from the state and federal resources. Specifically, the pressure on public education and the result of the financial disparities. And you know, you worked with OSBA which is a national organization they've been a great asset for our school district. So, I certainly we appreciate that. Um but on a personal standpoint, um I've learned a great deal from you um financial for the the school uh the public school uh financial forecast and um just understanding behind the scenes of the numbers. Um you know, I think the first couple of times that I was on finance committee, I went home and probably cried myself to sleep thinking, "OMG, what am I doing?" And you have been um really helpful with information and I could call you at
008any time and say, "Okay, let's talk about this. Let Let me understand this." And so, I appreciate that collaborative spirit and I appreciate just uh you willing to um you know, sit down with a parent of the district and um and just uh explain things out to somebody that did not go to school for financial forecasting. So, um I appreciate that and we are going to miss you. With that, Treasurer, please call the roll. Mr. Dascalos. Yes. Mr. Parker. Yes. Mrs. Barley. Yes. Mrs. Barnes. Yes. Mr. Curry. Yes. Okay, thank you. Next, we're going to read the resolution authorizing the engagement of the Ohio School Boards Association to conduct a professional search. Whereas, pursuant to Ohio Revised Code Section 3313.22, the Board of Education of the Twinsburg City School District Board is required to appoint
009a Treasurer to serve as the Chief Financial Fiscal Officer of the Twinsburg City School District. And And whereas, the Board anticipates a vacancy in the office of Treasurer and desires to conduct a professional competitive search process for qualified candidates. And whereas, the Ohio School Boards Association, OSBA, offers professional competitive search services for Ohio school districts, including services related to the recruitment and selection of school district treasurers. And whereas, the Board desires to engage of to assist the Board in conducting research for a treasurer for the district while retaining full authority over all final hiring decisions. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of Education of the Wooster City School District that one, the board hereby authorizes the engagement of OSBA to provide professional search services in connection with the recruitment and identification of candidates
010for the position of treasurer of the district. OSBA services shall include those customarily provided in connection with a treasurer search as agreed upon by the board and OSBA separate and unique applicable contractual terms approved by The board president or the board uh the president designate is authorized to execute any agreements or documents necessary to effectuate this engagement provided that any expenditure of district funds shall be subject to applicable fiscal and legal requirements. Now, four, nothing in this resolution shall be construed to nullify the board's Selection, appointment, contract terms, and compensation of any treasurer shall remain solely within the discretion of the board and shall require separate board action. Five, the resolution and the engagement authorized herein and which shall be implemented in compliance with applicable provisions of Ohio law including but not limited to Ohio
011Revised Code Chapter 3313 and 5705. Six, it is hereby found and determined that all formal actions of this board concerning and relating to the adoption of this resolution were taken in an open meeting of this board in compliance with all applicable and legal requirements including Section 121.122 of the Ohio Revised Code. There is a motion, is So moved. I second. It has been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Hearing on treasure, please call roll. Mr. Manson. Yes. Mr. Griffin. Yes. Mrs. Marley. Yes. Ms. Barnes. Yes. Mr. Griffin. Yes. Okay. Um just a comment before we move on to discussion items. So, looking ahead, our priority is to ensure a seamless transition. We're officially opening the search for a new treasurer starting tomorrow, April 10th, with the goal to review all applications by May 11th. We hope
012to have a new member um hired uh in by June 1st. Full details on the application process and candidate requirements will be included in the follow-up notes from today's session. And again, we certainly thank Ryan and his committee for the district and wish him very best. With that, we're going to move to discussion items. And well, actually, we're already in discussion items. What am I talking about? Um so, at this time, I'd like to entertain uh any further discussions from both members. Members, yes? First off, I just want to thank you for your leadership. I know this has been a whole lot to put together, it's a whole idea of writing a transformation plan to into existence by May 15th, and then being also tasked with putting together this timeline creating a treasurer. I really
013do recognize your um you know, working night and day on it. And if you um indulge me just a few questions for me to understand between you and and you know, Mr. Gault possibly, Mr. Ann, to help um understand the remaining process steps. What's coming, right? But what's coming between now and the 15th? You originally um you know, gave us the goal of of gave us the superintendent's uh the I guess deadline to have a transformational plan ready for us by um by the 15th. So if I'm I'm just one word backwards from the 15th a little bit to understand what's the plan. Um so and at the same time you have your oversight committee that meets again on the 15th, right? So that's happening on the 15th. Um and then the oversight committee will
014just kind of take a little breather until we figure out the role of that committee beyond the 15th beyond. Okay. So sometime before assuming real close to the 15th, board members will be individually briefed on the recommendation of the superintendent, right? So and actually we had Mr. Gantt on the city words just to give you that at the oversight committee last night about the step-by-step process. Okay, yeah. Give us the overview of that. That's my question. How's that? Fair enough. We had an opportunity to talk a little bit about this too as well earlier. There's a couple things that we told oversight that we would go about in terms of this process. One, it's really and this came up organically from a conversation that we had with with staff last night. We can start there.
015And specifically about how will we know about what's happening what the recommendation is. That was the question that was raised I believe. And what we told the staff what we told oversight yesterday is that our plan is to make sure obviously this board is aware of whatever the plan is. And this is the order of things. That we would make sure that the board understands this is that exactly what's in the plan. Then we would opt in after that. We would make sure our staff are aware. We would in addition to that we would make We try to make sure that the impacted schools are aware. What I mean by that if you're being repurposed, we would like to give you a little special attention there if we can do that. Um then we would
016do that. And then after that or in that same line, we would make sure the community is aware. Uh so we want to make sure our parents, our communities are as fully informed as possible. Um and then uh the oversight and then the media and and and the office of the media would be the last group to be notified. That would be the last We would be the last time that last group that we worry about in terms of making sure they got the information. There were discussions about how we would distribute that information. Uh I made a commitment or I said that we would tell our at least our staff and our employees that this is when you're going to get that information out. So we we have yet to do that. We plan
017to do that. Um and uh we talked about video and we talked about other options. We we are looking at two of them. Okay, I'm going to I'm going to try to narrow narrow it down a little bit. I understand that it's all still um you still have a lot a lot on your plate between now and less than a week from today, right? Um so we're going to have another briefing sometime before Um and and and everything really becomes public by the time that oversight committee gets it. And I mean again, media will be notified at that meeting, right? Does that make it at all? Um but it will there be um So when we talk about impacted schools, I'm like I'm I'm concerned about that. The staff in general impacted schools, I mean
018I know there's not enough of you to go door-to-door to schools and call little quick staff meetings. Is it going to be principals that are going to asked to communicate to their staff if it's a an impacted school. Is that what you're thinking? That it's particularly worried about impacted schools. I understand everybody needs to know. Yeah, there's two different two different things that we got to accomplish. One, we want to we would like Now, I use the word like specifically, it could be very difficult to do. Uh we would like to make sure the impacted schools are aware of it before anything else. In that order of things. That's what we would like to do. We are talking about how do we go out to the go to the impacted staff sometime afterwards to make
019sure that we can hear about hear what their concerns are, talk to the community and those things as well. So, there were two different things that we were going to talk to the impacted staff. Staff, thank you. All right, so I'm seeing those are just two different things. One is the notification, right? That you're impacted. And then a second opportunity to spend some quality time with them to fully understand whatever the arrangements are going to be to the best of your understanding when they'll know where they land and all of those things. So, two things. One is their notification and then immediately as soon as possible some quality time with each staff. That is good. Okay. So, I think about the community the same way. Um they're going to hear it obviously no later than
0206:00 No, everybody's going to know no later than 6:00 15 cuz that's when that what we call the oversight committee is, right? But so, staff again staff general staff. Will they get it? I mean, I feel like impacted schools needed to hear it before the rest of And other than the board, impacted schools need to be the next to hear it. If if we can flip if that matters. It's a nuance. I don't know. No. Okay, I I don't know if it matters, but that's just in my what I'm thinking is impacted schools. And then same with the community. When you talk about community knowing, there's one thing that the community is going to know the minute really impacted schools now because they're all going to be getting their emails quickly, right? Like, "Oh my
021god, our school is our school our school you know." So, it will almost become moot unless in between that time there's an official um I don't know that this they did to the community saying this this is what you know, who's closing or what we're thinking and where we're going to have something greater. Again, this is all recommendation. So, it's still recommendation language at that point, right? That's correct. This is a We're communicating as a superintendent's recommendation to the board and what it means to the rest of the world until we another 2 weeks go by when we've had our chance to vote on it, right? That's correct. Okay. So, I want to keep the language right. Okay. The community piece, right? You're going to um I would like by the time you get to
022oversight committee you to be able to give dates of community meetings to have those conversations like you did, right? Like you you had those community meetings all set up, right? For the in- put, but now It's like yes. >> It's like each school that's impacted you're going to go do something in that building and allow the parents to come and that sort of thing? Going to be communicating the access and how we will be communicating with those impacted buildings on that day, is that correct? So, you can put Good. That That would be great. So, that at least people will be getting all this news, everything's going to seem very chaotic, but they know they have something to look forward to. Here's where we'll get together, learn more, more hear more, okay? Some more. Um
023Okay. So, at the oversight committee when all of this long full day with other building closures happen, they they have however really it takes, right? What And you can speak to this probably and personally what's what is what does that mean? What's happening there once once they get the rest of the the whole story. They will agree with that then. I'm pretty sure. They may have heard it by then but the goal of this is at the end of all this discussion and the oversight committee guys all got to make my parents right and everything that we have been talking about. The end of it is the transformation plan and what the recommendation is. So, the administration is going to present the transformation plan to those members that have dedicated the last couple months um
024through this process. And so, it really is just a presentation of the transformation plan. There's no action items from them. They're not going to They may have some questions the members. They may have some questions. Other than that, it is just a presentation. Sorry, jumping jumping real quick. Not not a presentation of the transformation plan but a recommendation. Correct. Yes, one word. Great word. Yes. Also, for the parent notification, I think this is the first time we've heard about community meetings happening at the impact of schools and public notifications. Let me be clear. Notification is this is what's happening. When we say community meetings, we're going to put our additional faculty in we're going to be able to go to that school, let them know that we're going to meet at that school and invite
025the parents and community to be at that discussion about our what we're trying to what we're recommending. But is it really that you can do that between the time it's announced and our board or is it going to be after or both that you really have those more robust conversations? So, well can candidly it's going to be difficult within that time frame within that time frame before the 30 days? But we will have a day that we can get together and be glad have those conversations. That that was my question. So, the uh my my question is about this. I want to ask more about governance. So, the oversight committee will give us this something like that. And I see that as an announcement of a recommendation. Because if you're saying there's no discussion, and
026there is no uh then it means, you know, there needs to be some clarification, which is discussion. So, that that I'm I'm just missing words here, maybe, but that is discussion, right? And I will tell you as a board member, by definition, a recommendation is just that. It's a recommendation. So, you're going out and telling everybody, which can't be avoided, but let's make sure it's the right words. It's a recommendation. Because as an individual board member, I reserve the right to not accept that recommendation, to change that recommendation, to question that recommendation. So, I don't see it as an announcement, okay? Because I don't think that that oversight committee thinks for me we've gotten to the point where I know that recommendation to be. And we're going to hear just just before the 15th when,
027you know, the the council committee meeting, I I don't see that last until the day. I think you said it. I don't see that last meeting being anything but an announcement uh or a presentation. But it's But it's not It's not a discussion. All right. Well, the members of that committee can certainly ask questions if they need clarification and if write questions to administration or if there's a disinclination from that committee, they can certainly do that. There's no uh decision-making at the point This is just a recommendation that is going to be presented. But, I I have to continue my point is this does this follow through? So, government uh the committee they they make a recommendation and those individuals who are part of that committee say, "You know, I I think we have to
028go in this direction or we have to go in that direction." They're not making a decision. They're They are making comments on their recommendations for the board to consider. I So, I mean, what is the word with presentation and and discussion of the library? Yeah. I guess part of that brings to mind that that that's all going to be happening at an April 15th table where only one board member is going to be present. And I wonder if for those board members who might be available, we couldn't convert that to a special board meeting so that other board members, if they're available, can participate in the conversations and the questions. I don't know how many other times we're going to really have to do that in a way. So, I wonder if we could consider
029converting that to a special board meeting so that the whole board who is able to participate. And I believe they're available, right? And that's why I say only one board member will be sitting there if we do that. Mr. Desmond is absent. And I don't know I mean, I don't know who can who can make it. I I my kid's birthday. My kid's birthday is on Friday, September 3rd that day, but I could I could find a way around that. That's okay. it's I don't know about the other board members, but I I feel like it's it's a committee, right? I may be the only one board member there, but certainly it's open to the public. If anyone can sit in there and listen to the conversation, and um you know, just like last night,
030you and and Mr. Harper were there to listen. Uh there's no deliberation amongst the other board members, but this is going to be like putting a special board meeting at an HR meeting, right? We don't think and and I get it, we've done that, but I there's going to be a a presentation of a recommendation, and that's it. Uh there may be some discussion from the committee members, but it's it's they're they're not going to vote on anything. They're just giving maybe some opinions, and maybe not. Maybe they're just going to hear the recommendation, and we're going to call it a day. From my fingers if you're just observing in the gallery, because I was here, and I couldn't ask questions because I'm not part of the committee. Um and I couldn't possibly offer insights
031if someone asked a question, and I might be able to say, "Okay, I think they meant this." So, I think there is some value to having more voices at that final uh important meeting where it really is the only public-facing meeting where this thing this recommendation is being discussed. Is that it's a public-facing meeting? And it's the only public-facing meeting, and there will be um members of the committee and a single board member who'll be able to participate in that discussion. So, if there's another um board member who's willing to um endorse the idea of turning that into a um special board meeting, I'd love to hear uh your your insight on that. I just want to know, so you have a a presentation to the committee. The committee say yay nay or edit. They
032don't say yay nay or edit. They're just listening to what's presented. And asking questions. Okay, I would ask questions if it sparked a light bulb into the administration of the person who was presenting. Then that goes to where? That edit, that added information or light bulb, who does that go to? Now what's the the plan for that? That goes into the minutes. That is going to be public. Right, but where is it in the process? Like if it's going to if it if you Mr. I'll pick on you because you're looking at me, I'm looking at you, you're looking at me. So if you are presenting and somebody from the committee go, "Well, hey, if you do this, this will save this dollars." You go, "Ah, I didn't think of that." Where now does that
033process go? Notifying the board that this is the new way to look at this and this is also now moving to the formula and get pushed out that way. That may affect more students, staff, or think that less students. Where is that process at at the short time? That business right there. We're already at the board. So where is What is that process like at that meeting if something new changed? I I love questions. What I What I would do I would take What I would do is uh I would take that information and say, "Wow, that's a great idea. We need to make sure we tell the board members about that." And we'll tell them we would like to make a revision of some sort because this is brilliance. We got a date of
034April 15th and collectively I'll give recommendations. I would assume that the board would want us to revise and advise but it should be something different and that makes a sense. So that's what we That's what I would do. I would take That's a great idea. Let's make sure Let's make We'll Make sure the board is aware of that. And then we'll give them the information about that before Uh the only one thing I have about the only response to that is this is that All right, let's be we got to be real. All right. Let's Let's just say we make a You guys make a recommendation from the administration committee. And uh one or more of the board members don't agree because by definition a recommendation is a recommendation. It's not a It's not a
035telling us what to do. So, and then we make that that revision. We know a lot of this is based on finances. Okay. So, you that that uh we can say well, we we prefer you do something else and then uh that particular way whatever money finances is attached to that recommendation. And you're all going to have to get together, figure that all out, and then call each individual board member again to say, "This is what we want to do." And you guys you can do So, let me make sure I'm clear with what you're saying. If the oversight committee said gave a great idea that we felt we were going to make a recommendation, our responsibility as administration is still to reach that So, if that number dictates Lisa my assessment, that number that
036now turns to six goes to 23 as a result, that would be a poor recommendation on our part on our part because it doesn't reach that number. So, to me, that's a part of the the part I I appreciate your response because that's the practicality of what we're getting getting at because if you're right. So, let's just say, "I I don't feel comfortable with this." And you say, "Well, that's fine, but where are you going to find $3 million?" Okay? Uh and I I think that's a very realistic thing, and I'm glad that you said that because uh that should be your challenge uh back to me as a new board member. So, I mean, it'd be It's good that we're having this because it behooves each board member to say, "Okay, this is If
037If the recommendations involve this amount of money, okay? And you want to change it to test 22." Okay? Don't just Don't just say, "Well, I don't want I don't I just don't feel good about that." I don't feel good about that either. But, uh you have to have that money to not give the other Yeah. Yeah. Each individual board member comes from their own uh perspective. Okay? And you all know we have to deal with And, you know, my perspective, even if I do come up with the solution that has money, my perspective could be different to somebody else's perspective. Let's just say I don't know. I I fell into a trap last night getting to school. But, uh so, I won't do that now. But, let's just say I come up with A uh
038idea. Let's say that I I like A. Okay? And uh Ms. Byers says, "Huh, I'll never vote for that. I like B, and I'm NEVER GOING TO VOTE for A." You know, in in between that short amount of time, we'll have we'll have a very short amount of time to figure that out. Okay. Okay, here we go. Piggyback off of that. So, board member Masters says A, I says B, the committee says C. But, the authority is the board. Yeah. Yeah. Y'all have to have to agree. What is the purpose So, what is the purpose of the present presentation for that if nothing's coming out of it. That's the thing. I think that's what we're missing out on those What's coming out of the committee besides them listening to what we're going to hear and
039then we're going to make a decision. Where is their buy-in for even doing a committee like that again if they don't have What's the buy-in? The recommendation. It's just a recommendation. So, it's a suggestion at the end of the day, it's up to the board. Right. We have a problem with what I'm saying. So, this we are What's the buy-in for us to say, "Hey, committee members who are key people in our community, come listen to our problems, our solutions, our concerns. Help us." But, he don't tell the truth. Yeah, if I may, what I would say to that is that committees literally committees we have talked ad nauseam about all of this stuff. They have provided insight. I I really do believe their input along with the community's input will be a part of
040our recommendation. So, I think by the recommendation of itself, my role is they see some of that that buy-in, that vested interest of our decision-making process based upon some of the things that they have said and the community has said. Okay, so where would be the board members who are not on the oversight committee know that because even in the binder the stuff that we have already knew from the way to the community meetings and also talking to the administration, but nothing from the oversight committee participation. Excuse me, where will we see what they recommend? Are we going to get another binder? Look at the minutes. The minutes. The minutes. The minutes. But, but yeah, I have to say I agree I appreciate this conversation. And I appreciate some of the things you said. And
041you're right. The fact that the board and you said Look, it's not your guys' comp free. I love it. You're right. It's on us and that's that's a big comp." Now, I just want to make Make sure you understand me, and I respect this conversation. Yeah, at this time, um is there anyone from the board interested in what Mr. Gerkin has proposed? Is there an opportunity for another board member to sit in on the Mr. Baskets at high school makeup? Yeah. So, as long as there's only two board members there, then the English teacher can All right, attorney. I'm looking at our lawyer, but basically, and I don't know So, I want to make sure we get You would have to take action to substitute him with somebody else for that meeting. For the board?
042Yes. So, I am willing to take on the responsibility of sitting in for Mr. Baskets with different board members and indulging in that. I would like to make a motion to uh assign Laura Gerkin in the seat of Bob Baskets for the I'm sorry, Laura Baskets for the committee The transformation committee for the The trans- The transformation oversight committee 2.0 for the meeting for the meeting on April 15th, over there. Second. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Okay, I'm going to try to get this vote going. Mr. Baskets. Yeah. Mr. Parker. Yeah. Mr. yes Mr. yes motion to adjourn check this is second in the discussion carry on to the next roll call vote yes Mr. Parker yes