001is a meeting of the West Yaga Local School District Board of Education in public for the purpose of conducting the West Yaga Local 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. Can you call the role, please? Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, here. Mrs. Clayool, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leworth, yes. Can you rise for the pledge, please? Ice to the flag of the United States of America. to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay. Are there any additions or changes to the agenda? There are none. All right. So, we are moving on to programs and reports. Um, Mrs. Thank you. Uh, it is
002with great honor that I would like to um let you know that Chi-Chi Master Angelo won the OAP Ohio Association for Pupil Transportation Rita Rogers Award for Excellence in Special Needs Transportation. Uh Chi-Chi's unwavering dedication to students of WestG has been evident throughout the decades of service and her impact on the lives of our children with special needs is truly remarkable. Chi-Chi began her career at Westg and transportation department on August 28th, 1974 as a bus driver and in this role she held pr she held with pride until her retirement in July on July 1st, 2004. However, her heart remained with the students and her colleagues, and on November 1st, she returned first as a custodian and then back in the transportation department as an aid. In this role, Chi-Chi has worked with some of
003the most challenging special needs students, always demonstrating unparalleled patience, compassion, and commitment. This year, one student in particular needed extra emotional support, and Chi-Chi instinctively stepped in to be that child's champion. She proved uh I'm sorry, she provided a safe and nurturing environment on the bus, reading to the student, engaging in thoughtful conversations, and offering the comfort of a listening ear and a warm hug when needed. After 40 minutes each day, the student felt seen, heard, and valued thanks to Chi-Chi's kindness. Even after the student moved to another district, she continues to ask about Chi-Chi. That's a true testament to Chi-Chi's lasting impact on our students and their bond. Chi-Chi's ability to create meaningful connections with students, particularly those facing unique challenges, embodies the very essence of what this award represents. She brings not only
004professionalism but also a deep sense of care, humanity and humanity to her role, making a difference in lives of so many students that she has served throughout the years. I can think of no better person and more deserving for the Rita Rogers award than Chi-Chi Master Angelo, whose compassion and dedication has left a lasting imprint on the hearts to all the kids that she has served. Chi-Chi, I have up. So, I have Chi's award that she received at the Ohio Transportation Awards banquet on June the 9th where she looked beautiful. She was worried about her dress, but she looked absolutely beautiful. And I will say she was the only one that got a standing ovation that night. So, we were very proud that she was there to represent Westg in such a positive manner. You
005want to get a picture with the board? Why don't you do that? The only thing that I would add to what Melody said because she said um some very eloquent, very nice comments about Chi-Chi is that Chi-Chi's kindness is not reserved for just her students. Um they're the primary beneficiaries of it, but Chi-Chi is kind to everyone. She's kind to her fellow uh transportation department colleagues and she has always been exceptionally kind and thoughtful toward me. So on a personal note, Chi-Chi, I greatly appreciate you. You know that. So [Applause] Thank you, Chi-Chi. Thank you. Now, not to chase anyone out, but if you and uh your colleagues wish to leave at this point in time, you're welcome to. Or you're free to stay for the entire board meeting. Bye everybody. Thanks for coming. Yep.
006Thanks much. Okay. And our next presentation is from Dr. Davis. This will be an extremely brief presentation. Um every year um we are required to report to the board um the usage of student wellness and success funds and the disadvantaged people impact a um so this year um we focused on um for the student wellness and success funds um mental health services through Ravenwood. We have a person that's called a TBS therapeutic behavior support individual who goes between all the schools but is heavily focused at the middle and high school. Um we have an additional school counselor at the high school. Crisis prevention intervention certification um is training the trainer. One of our school psychologists trains our professionals um and other staff and administrators um in behavior deescalation of students. Um and it also covered
007our social work. Uh the disadvantage a geography family first council if you're not familiar with it is an interdiciplinary council um that will convene it includes um Ravenwood JFS courts that sort of thing and if there is a student in crisis um they will convene and give advice about next steps to the family and schools resource and then lastly we focused on reading improvement um and intervention and our English language learners She provides services and services to our students. Thank you. Okay. All right. We are moving on to public remarks. Mrs. Kerwin. This is on the last page at the top of the page. The resolution to approve the West Local Schools Board of Education to join vouchers hurt Ohio. I'm here to ask you not to join. Uh let me give you a couple
008success stories. Young man uh his was homeschooled until the 12th grade. He was here at Westg just for the 12th grade. Now he's a doctor. Uh sees patients but also his um hospital system likes him so much they gave him a lab and a staff. So he does research in his specialty. Another uh Chesterland kid, their parents divorced. He got worse and worse as time went on. He they moved to Chardan and Chardan let him do online schooling because he was literally out of control. But he was smart enough to know that he needed discipline. So he put himself into the Marines and he's been dishonor he's been honorably discharged and now he's in college and never I this kid you never would have guessed he would go to college. So we need alternative to
009public schools. We need home schools, online schools, uh religious schools, charter schools, private schools. We need different schools. So vouchers do not hurt Ohio. So that's what I'm here for. You know, it is public schools who stop teaching phonics and cursive. And yet now with MRI, you know, functional MRI, they're finding that uh kids who just do things with a computer, they don't retain as much as when they're writing. So, you know, public schools jump on some of these fads and it's not good. Some some kids need uh the structure of of private schools, of religious schools. They need structure that you don't get sometimes in public schools. So, I'm asking you not to join this group. We need vouchers. We need alternatives to, you know, one-sizefits-all. And in any business, you know, you know
010this, if there's competition, that means the other people have to raise their standards. So, you want competition. Thank you. Thank you. Typically, we do not respond to public comments, but we are going to be having a discussion on this um like you said, at the end of the meeting. So, you're welcome to stay and listen to that. That that might help assuage some of your concerns. Okay. Okay. All right. Moving on. It's resolution 233 for routine matters. So move. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Dr. Beers? Yes. Mrs. Clayool? Yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh? Yes. Miss Levvenworth? Yes. Mrs. Sherwood? Yes. Resolution 234 to approve warrants for May 2025. So move second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Claypool, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Levvenworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Resolution
011235 to approve advances of funds for the 2024 2025 school year. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Coleman Walsh. Yes. Miss Levvenworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clayool, yes. Resolution 236 to approve the increases and decreases and appropriations for fiscal year 2025. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Miss Levvenworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Resolution 237 to approve the final appropriations for fiscal year 2025. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clayool, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Levvenworth, yes. Resolution 238 to approve the permit appropriations for fiscal year 2026. So move. Second. Any discussion? There is. So what we'll do is this is the first resolution that we
012have to have in place by July 1st when all the final revenues and expenses and all that kind of stuff are here. Then we'll also have another adoption to amend it on the July 7th uh board meeting. So we'll this is just to get us in case there's any expenditures we have to have as of July 1st. Call the role please. Dr. Beers. Yes. Mrs. Clayool. Yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh. Yes. Miss Leworth. Yes. Mrs. Sherwood. Yes. Resolution 239 is to approve an administrative contract recommendation. Move. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Clayool, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Levvenworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Amy, she's not here tonight, correct? Okay. Resolution 240 is to approve base salary increases for the 2025 2026 school year. Second. Any discussion? Call the RO,
013please. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leverworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Resolution 241 is to approve administrative contract adjustments for the 2025 2026 school year. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Miss Levvenworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Mrs. Coleman Walsh. Yes. Resolution 242 is to approve certified staff appointments for the 2025 2026 school year. So move. Second. Any discussion call the role please. Mrs. Sherwood? Yes. Dr. Beers? Yes. Mrs. Clayool? Yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh? Yes. Miss Leard? Yes. Megan Bell, would you like to introduce the new teachers? For sure. Can I have First is Emily. She will be joining our Lindsay team. Um, just to be transparent, we had quite a variety of applicants in both of these pools. So, we
014really feel like we got top talent. Um, Emily comes to us from she completed her education at Miami. Um, she is both bilingual both in English and in Russian. Um, and she has had student teaching experience. She will take the position where she will be teaching ELA and she will also be teaching math. We're very eager. She had quite a reputation. She's been a camp counselor at one of the local camps. Um and had just the most beautiful um reference by somebody that we trustly. So very excited for her to be joining our team for her enthusiasm and her join. Welcome. [Applause] And then we have so Jessica will be joining our middle school team where she'll be teaching um some sixth grade math and she'll also be teaching eighth grade science. Um she comes
015with a um a 49 license to teach both ELA math science and many many specialties. Um she's been teaching um eighth grade science in mentor. She's also been doing some math support for struggling students in both sixth and seventh grade. So has really a nice skill set that fits with our students. Um most importantly um she is a graduate of Westiaga school. She remembers the middle school. She knew exactly which class she had science. I'm like wow your memor is way better than mine. I don't remember my middle school science class. But she remembered every nook and So very eager to have her join our family and she's going to be a great asset to our welcome. Okay, moving on. Resolution 243 is to accept a certified staff resignation. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Call
016the role, please. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clayool, yes. Mrs. Miss Goldman Walsh. Yes. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Resolution 244 is to approve additional predium pay for certified staff. So move. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Clayole, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. I should have added that's for work outside the 2425 contractual year. So that's currently underway. Um resolution 245 is to approve a certified stipen for work outside of the 2425 contractual year for the individual named. So moved. Second. Any discussion? So this is outside the year that's just getting finished. Yes. Okay. It's a summer. Yeah. Okay. Not many days left. No. I know. Call the role, please. Mrs. Coleman Walsh. Yes. Miss Levworth. Yes. Mrs. Sherwood. Yes, Dr. Beers. Yes, Mrs.
017Clay. Yes. Resolution 246 is to approve the rehire of classified staff for the 2025 2026 school year. This is someone who recently retired. So move. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Miss Levworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clayool, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Resolution 247 is to approve a change in a classified staff contract for the 2024 2025 school year. Moving from probationary to limited second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Levore, yes. Resolution 248 is to approve service contracts for the 2425 school year. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Levvenworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Resolution 249 is to approve supplemental contracts for
018the 2025 2026 school year. You'll see there's quite a list. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Clayole, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Resolution 250 is again a resolution to approve service contracts for the 2025 2026 school year. So move second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leworth, yes. Mr. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Resolution 251 is to approve unpaid days listed. So second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Resolution 252 is to approve a student internship, student teaching placement for the 2025 2026 school year. So moved. Second. Any discussion from the University of Phoenix? Yes. It is unusual. Call the
019role, please. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Level, yes. Resolution 253 is to approve the West Giaga High School parent student handbook for the 2025 2026 school year. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clayole, yes. Mrs. Miss Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwick, yes. Resolution 254 is to approve the West Middle School parent student handbook for the 2025 2026 school year. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Clayool, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leour, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Resolution 255 is to approve the Westwood and Lindsay Elementary School parent student handbooks for the 2025 2026 school year. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood,
020yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Resolution 256 is a resolution declaring transportation and practical for the 2025 2026 school year. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Resolution 257 is to approve the service agreement between West Local Schools and PSI affiliates uh for the 2025 2026 school year. This is for uh speech and language pathologist services for St. Anel. So move. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Sherwood. Yes, Dr. Beers. Yes, Mrs. Clayool. Yes, Mrs. Coleman Walsh. Yes, Miss Leworth. Yes. Resolution 258 is to approve the advanced industrial roofing incorporated change order number one. So move. Second. Any discussion call the role, please. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leworth, yes.
021Mrs. Sherwood. Yes, I saw a hesitation there. I saw Dr. Beers was getting ready to say something. And I can I can just give you a brief overview and Mark can give many more details than I could, I'm sure. But when we removed a portion of the roof, um the surface of the roof, we discovered that the roof was a flat surface and not a pitched surface. And as you would imagine in northeast Ohio with the weather that we have and the amount of rain and the amount of snow, a flat roof is just asking for leaks. So they are going to pitch the roof um by tapering the insulation so it will be a tapered roof rather than a flat roof. Um there are two means in which this can be done. One is
022by tapering the insulation so the surface is actually tapered so the water runs toward the drains. The other one is um through the installation of what are called saddles on a roof. Now when I think of saddles I think of my horses. I don't think of saddles like that. They're more like pyramids that can be constructed on a roof that can direct the water so that it's not any longer an interrupt an uninterrupted flat surface. We've opted for the tapered insulation. It's going to give a a tapered roof with some pitch to it. Mark, correct anything I said that was wrong because this is your chance to shine, buddy. This is the last bit of roof, too, that hasn't been right. Is that what am I remembering that wrong? It is the this section over
023here with the middle school. So, how much more roof have we not uncovered yet that might still be flat? I'll let Mark that's your that's your question. You don't have to put pyramids on there. And I think they anticipated that they would want it tapered, but it was when they uncovered it that they realized they had no base anymore. So they had to because I don't want it to everyone to think that they didn't anticipate that because they did. But yeah, awesome. I think Mrs. Sherwood's question may have been, do we know if there are any other roofs? And if it isn't hers, it's mine. Question. Do we know if there are any other roofs here that are presumed to have been pitched but are not? Yes. I don't know. Okay. Yeah. Until you start
024pulling stuff off, you don't know. It's what you don't know that you don't know. Awesome. Okay. Thank you. We just Change orders. Yes. And change orders can bump your costs up considerably. Okay. This was not a cheap one. All right. Next. Next resolution. Resolution 259 is to authorize a request for bids for the West Giaga middle and high school well project. So moved. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leverworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Resolution 260 is to approve the renewal of the district commercial insurance package. This is for the 25 2026 school year. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Resolution 261 is to approve the girls
025soccer athletic trip to Edinburgh University in Erie, Pennsylvania. And Brandon Stewart is here in case the board has any questions related to this trip. Okay. So second any discussion Brandon, you want to fill us in a little bit on what the trip entails? 7:30 in the morning. This is better. Yes, it's better. I don't forget these meetings. Why do you bring this up, Brandon? Do you have a I was gonna say, do you have a Huh? No. So, this is going to be their first overnight team that they're doing. I think they did one two or three years ago. Ed for three days. Coach will be supervising them. They'll stay in the dorms. I think right now there's 37 girls which is awesome 43 right now. So go there for three days instruction. Awesome. Thank
026you. Call the RO, please. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Resolution 262 is to approve the fourth modification to the employment contract of the treasur of the West Local School District. Second. Any discussion? Call the role, please. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Lford. Yes. Resolution 263 is the resolution that I'm sure the board wishes to discuss tonight. Um, but let's at least place it on the table so the discussion can ensue. Resolution 263 is to approve the West Local Schools Board of Education joining the uh join uh the vouchers for Ohio movement. So moved. Second. Okay, let's have some discussion. Um I think it's this is this is not an easy issue. This is a very
027complicated issue because it the voucher system now is different than when it than at its genesis. So I think it's important to go on the record to say first of all I am not like I am pro public education. Um I am not anti- voucher as a as a philosophy. I think it is important for um people to be able to um leave failing school districts and find a more appropriate education um which was the original intention of a voucher program. When you lived in a failing school district and your family didn't make a certain amount of money, the state supplemented that income and allowed a voucher to help send a student to a better school district. And I think at its core that is what this is supposed to be since that beginning which
028was Karen how many years ago was that? The ed choice went in a couple of years ago. So it was just the voucher and now it's the expanded ed education voucher. So this is a relatively new piece to that where now they've expanded it. So it doesn't matter if the school is failing. It doesn't matter about income. Everybody qualifies for a voucher. Um, and we have private schools that are being partially funded by public money. Um, and it's not about choice. I agree with you, Mrs. Kerwin, that that that there needs to be choice and that families should have a choice and where they're going sending their kids to school. But I I believe where it's at right now is I don't know. It's it's it makes it a much harder decision. So, I'd like
029to hear what other people I know what I know what my fellow board members think just generally speaking, but I'd like to make it a formal conversation. So this doesn't take money away from private schools or from um religious schools or and it doesn't stop ch vouchers but as you say it's grown out of proportion and it's taking actually over the years it's taken billions of dollars away from public schools and it's just it's not being administered. If you look at other states Ohio is probably one of the worst as far as the amount of money that legislature and that that it's being taken away from public schools and put into vouchers. So, it's gotten out of hand and it needs to be brought under control. It's not stopping vouchers. It's just saying this has
030gotten this expansion is that what like is that what the lawsuit's aim is? Is to reduce the expansion of vouchers because and this is not like this does not affect homeschoolers. This does not affect um that home that this has nothing to do with that at all. Um because we have several families that choose to homeschool and that that is a that's a choice too and we are about allowing our families that we help to provide people for sure want to do homeschooling that's that's totally right so this isn't that like this doesn't affect that we have homeschool students who participate in our extracurricular programming and our sports teams etc right um they're they're welcome to do that and we respect parents choices to homeschool their children and I think it's important to note that
031we are in a pretty unique geographical location. We are surrounded by um dozen more private schools whether they are parochial in nature or just private in nature. Um we have a large choice at our at our threshold like if you want your child to play hockey at Gilmore like that's that becomes a choice for us then because they're right here. there are other districts in the state where this isn't a conversation because there is nowhere else to send your child. Um so I think it puts us in a unique position and one that again is is complicated. I think one of the things to be aware of and I'm not steering this but um because ultimately it's a board's decision. It's not mine certainly but we have not seen a huge increase in the number
032of students who attend private schools here. We we have always had a significant number of our students who attend private schools. What is happening now is that that families who were not eligible for the vouchers in the past because of income or because of the fact that our schools are so high performing are now getting access to that money. So that people who were sending their children to private school and paying the tuition before now have in many cases a significant incentive from the state in the form of of public dollars to send their kids to private school. So it's not like we're seeing an exodus from our public schools to go to private schools. We're just seeing um more of the state money that's now going to the the private schools um to help
033fund those children's education who've already been there who've already been at private schools. Yes. I think that does make a false assumption that if parents choose to send their children to parochial schools that it's easy for them to pay for that. I don't think in cases in our district that it's always easy. I think it's definitely a sacrifice and I think Ed choice makes that sacrifice less traumatic to a family who chooses a faith-based education or a parochial education. Um, and so I don't think we can assume that everybody that goes to parochial schools is rolling in the dough and can pay lots of tuition. I don't think I think families I agree but I'm just the fact remains that people who were not eligible for the vouchers in the past are now eligible for
034them and there there's a difference of opinion on whether or not that's appropriate at all. But I agree with everything you said. I wouldn't I'm not saying that everyone who sends their child to a private school is wealthy. That's not the case. And I used to teach at a private school. So I mean I used to be a teacher at CBCA. So not all the kids who went there were rich. Well, I can I'll say a few things. Um because I'm I'm I agree. I mean, it's a difficult discussion. I'm not against vouchers. Um I'm very much for public education. Always have been. Whether you have kids in school or not, I believe it's society's responsibility to educate our children. I say ours, not because I want to take ownership because I don't, but you
035know, as a society, that's our responsibility. So, public education, you know, fits that. and we offer free education and WestG I mean we're fortunate here and I'm looking at this solely as as a WestG board member not as an Ohio person to be honest with you I've really struggled with this but I'm looking at it for for us and number one we have we have an outstanding school with exceptional teachers and we we really do perform and I think that we should continue to do so I I do think there's a little bit about competition But not that that is the reason we excel because I don't think it is. But um so I'm I'm for choice. I do think alternatives are okay. Um I also don't think it's factually accurate to assume that if
036funds were taken from the voucher system or the ed choice system that it would come to the public schools. Um, I've contacted a a couple representatives and I've been told it's separate funds, which tells me, I don't know much about how they work, which tells me they would have the ability to put this money wherever they wanted. And and they might do that. And with this current sentiment in Columbus and in our legislature, I'm not sure they would I'm not sure they would give it to public schools anyway. I don't know that that's a I don't know that that's necessarily accurate assumption to make. Um I I and we haven't been harmed by a choice. I mean I I don't think this school has been harmed. So um you know I I understand wealth you
037know we keep saying wealthy people who are already sending their kids but it is a heavily discounted program as they as they um you know depending on your wealth you get less and less and less. And I'm I think we could probably make the assumption that wealthy people probably pay a lot into the state funding. Um it doesn't really bother me so much to be honest with you. So I I guess you can tell where I'm going to land on this, but but it's not easy. I I'm not Well, I'm going to vote Well, I'm going to vote no. I don't I don't want to join this this group right now. I don't I don't think the timing is right. I'm not I would vote no. But again, I do I think there needs to
038be improvements. Yes, I think the whole state funding for schools needs to improve, but boy, that's a much bigger topic and with everything going on right now, who knows where that's, you know, where that's going to end. So, I just don't think the timing is right for us. So, that's where I stand, but it's difficult. Dr. I would agree with what a lot of you folks have already said is that I think having choices are great and um It's it's fortunate that people in our area can have choices. I mean, back in the old days when I went to school, we didn't have a choice. It was a one room country school. I rode my horse to school because there was no busing. Um, but nonetheless, uh, so having the choices are good. I think
039it's important for families to be able to have that. Particularly, as you said earlier, Christina, when the school districts were failing, that that is where it started. That's where it's really important for parents to be able to get their kids into a school district that uh they have a a better than average chance of getting a good education. I guess I think about it a bit, not only just here at Westg, but a little bit statewide as well. And the parts of rural Ohio that don't have choices, but yet my impression is that they're being affected by the um way that funds are being distributed as well. And um I guess so from that standpoint, I think it's I'd also say before I go on that compared to the other things that are going on
040in the state legislature right now with funding of public schools, this is the least of our worries, right? Um but uh I I guess I question whether or not this program has gone too far. I think oh I also wanted to clarify something too that vouchers have nothing to do with those online programs that schools may or may not offer um that Chardan student would have been if they had an online program rolling they would he would have been eligible for that regardless of the voucher system um so that doesn't affect this this is specifically about you know I live here off of Mayfield Road in Chesterland and I want to go to Bowmont and so I could take a voucher to go to Bowmont or if I wanted to go to NDCL that I
041could take the voucher and go to NDCL. Um, growing up here myself, this I mean the the schools that have been here are still always here. I went to this school. I remember my science classroom, my math classroom, too. It's um because I was traumatized in there, but that's a whole different story. Um, but like I used to dream about like being able to go to Gilmore, but there was this voucher system was not something that was a thing and and we did not have money growing up and I know that that your situation is similar to that with your private school experience and so that that's something that was always kind of hanging there and I think it's not going to go away because we are in a fortunate area for our kids and
042the question is what is best for And that's where I get stuck because as parents we get we make that decision for our children every day and sometimes we send them one place and it doesn't work and we need to send them somewhere else. Um the majority of our kids we serve here very well and there's always going to be outliers that that are better off for whatever reason in a different district and I would never want to eliminate that possibility. So I I I literally I'm so happy you know how you're voting. I don't I really don't know. Well, I'm struggling. I am I'm the person that went to Bulmont and I had a single mother living in Cleveland Heights and the voucher system didn't exist and we sacrificed and we paid tuition and
043I had to get scholarships and I think of my dear sweet mother and how much easier her life would have been had that doctor existed 20 years ago. So it's very for me to say that vouchers are not a service to people who, you know, who may not fit as a public school district and who want to go somewhere else or whose faith and and family life pushes them to go to a parochial school um because that's the choice their parents make. And my mother chose and we chose to send me and I would never go back on it. I love Bont with everything. Um, but I see the value in what the vouchers can do for families. Kathy, what if we were to join this? What is what is the what is the goal
044of the the lawsuit? What do they want to see happen? Are they are they looking to abolish vouchers entirely or do they not know? Are they just going to like like I what is the focus? What's the direction of this this lawsuit? I think what we've said the direction is that it's gotten out of hand and um I don't know do you know Karen how much a voucher provides at this point in time? It's between 8 and 9,000 and full. Yeah. Full if you it graduates based on income. Yeah. So high school secondary in the 9,000 and then K8 is in 8,000. I mean, it was only a couple thousand at that. And that wouldn't even I mean, I don't know what Bowmont was. Well, I think now the voucher would cover Bumont if you
045got it the full voucher, but like if my family applied, and you know, I'm a a teacher and my husband's a public servant, um we would make too much to really qualify for full. Um we may get something, but And I think um probably at the time it started when for for people who um were propel schools to help with St. Ansom or whatever else it would have been quite helpful for for the private schools would have been dropping a bucket for Haw or Gilmore. They don't uh Gilmore does not accept the voucher. Um oh the other part do not they do not have to accept if they like they they choose correct the those private schools. Oh they might I mean I think that they I don't I don't know but they might join
046later but as of right now they do not but I think even if they did I mean people were talking about it going to it wouldn't I mean it's it's a whisper for for a hawk or university school or um you know there are other obviously schools and other schools helpful when I started out, but that's what I think you're saying. It's just it's gotten out of hand and that um it's allowing people who were paying originally for the tuition and they can afford to do it to to take advantage of it. And I think that's what they're aiming for is to is to gain some control over I mean I know when I was involved at the state level and um as far as charter schools were concerned the um but the local schools
047and the county school and the universities uh could be the charter chartering entity. um the state board of education or the the state board of education and I was sitting in on a state board of education meeting and if somebody came in and made a recommendation that they accept a you know a new charter and nobody even questioned it. I mean it was just oh well good we're going to vote and pass it. And I think a lot of those things have have gotten a rubber stamp and they're they're not being as cautious or as attentive to monitoring um charters and vouchers. And that's what this is trying to do is to say, "Hey, it's got okay. I just like to say that I can't disagree with anything substantively that any of you have said
048tonight. I want to thank you all for for doing your homework on this and and having opinions. And I want to applaud the board for having this placed on the agenda tonight because it's been a topic of discussion for a long time. I think it's time for the board to make a decision either to join or not to join. So, I applaud you for doing so tonight, however you may vote. I feel like I need to do a disclaimer before the vote because I'm gonna I know how I'm going to vote now, but I know I like I want to explain why. Is that Right. Um, yeah, I'm going to be voting to join the vouchers hurt Ohio. Um, but I the reason being is that the state is not allowed to give $2 million
049to Notre Dame. It's a private school, it's a Catholic school, it's you name it. The state's not going to fund um that school. They will give the public schools the money. And right now there are several Christian-based schools and I'm sure other faith-based schools receiving money from the state directly that I believe violates um our um separation of church and state and how we we fund schools. So that's the reasoning why I'm going to vote yes just so that that's out there. Although I do not disagree with the people that will disagree with me. I think that that this is a deeply personal choice and it's very difficult to make it. So, um I know we all super love having awesome conversations like this so that people can pick them apart later, but that's okay.
050I'm sure they will. So, anyone else? Well, I'm I'm with you. I mean, I've been this way all along with bringing it up and I I do disagree with that. I mean, I am obviously I've been a school board member for a lot of years. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't believe in public education and be a strong strong advocate of public education. I went to public schools. Um, my kids went to this school. Um, I love Westiaga. It's a wonderful school system. We're lucky to have it. Uh, but I think that we are also responsible not just for the kids who are at Westa, but for kids in the and the state and um this is not helping so many. Call the RO please. Miss Leworth, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers,
051yes. Mrs. Clayool, no. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, no. Motion passes. Okay. Um, moving on to old business and suggestions to be included in um the future agenda. Um, Karen, what didn't I put? We talked about putting something here just to get an update of where we were on the budget. Oh, okay. Well, speaking of money, everybody's favorite. I think we're in a holding pattern. You know, the uh Senate and the House have had their conference committee. They're expecting something to come out tomorrow and then to send that to the floor for Wednesday. So, we'll know whether or not the inside millage will be eliminated, which would mean 5.6 million to this district alone annually. Um, we'll just have to wait and see where it all comes out and out of the conference committee. And then after
052that, it'll be voted on and then it'll be sent to the governor's office, which he also has a line item veto, which he's not been afraid to use before. Uh, so we'll see what happens at that point, but it's all due in by June 30th, so we can start on a new budget July 1st. So, we are running close to out of time. Um, what was I going to say? Oh, I know there's been a lot of chatter um on Facebook. I mean, let's be honest, that's where everybody gets all their news from right now. um especially local news that that this is just um inflammatory like rhetoric that people are like this isn't really going to happen. They do this to get us all wound up. This is real. Like it's super real. Um
053I'm getting it from here and then at the district that I work for. I am stressed on both levels all the time because we stand to lose a good deal of money and like I like how is this how do we offset then if the worst happens and if he doesn't use his line item veto, then what do we start thinking about to help? Because we can't absorb a $5.6 million loss like over and over. Like we just can't like we have some money in the bank because we are good financial stewards. Um but that's only going to take us so far. Well, I think that um Dr. Markwart and we've always there's a playlist of what happens when you start losing money, you know. So, um, we would look at those items that don't
054affect education in the classroom first and that's obviously we are 80% of our budget is on with staffing. So, we'd look at those areas where we are not affecting classrooms. Um, classroom sizes would get bigger. Unfortunately, we have busing that would be affected. No longer would be under an hour. It would probably be over an hour and some bus routes would be consolidated. Um there's a number of deferred maintenance. We've moved at this point we've moved $15 million into maintenance of the buildings that would have to be reconsidered uh so that we could fund this. So if if if the worst happened I mean again this this inside millillage reduction is not just schools. This is for cities. It's for villages. It's for the county. The county alone in Joy County would lose 11 mill
055over 11 million dollars. City of Shardan would lose. Uh South Russ Village would lose. These are uh funds that they go to pay for fire and safety. So there's a lot of discussion down in Columbus uh that you know this would people be impacted by but again we're a service industry. We would be impacted by by staff. Um so we are first would work on what we could do on the fringes and then we would have to look at what's going to happen uh in the classroom. Would this trigger an immediate need for an operating levy for November? it would be tight because you'd have to have two votes in July. So, uh, at this point, I don't think we already are we're looking at the, you know, an emergency levy renewal. Now, that's also
056probably going to be in the budget where they're going to eliminate our ability to renew the emergency levies or turn them into substitute levies. So, we will have some kind of levy coming onto the ballot. We do think that's in both the Senate and the House bill that that will go through and we'll also that will be part of the 20 mil calculation as well. Um so we will be looking we were already looking at May to look at the renewal of the emergency levy that was expiring. That's $3.7 million. So there will have to be some type of levy situation um whether or not this passes or not. Now, if we were to we were trying, you know, because all this takes effect July 1st, the way that the law has been written, it
057uh now there's been an amendment to um the bill that allows us to go bel to allow us to go below the 20 mil floor and not make up that difference for the next two years. But before, if we went below the 20 mil floor, it would kick up again. There's an amendment now that says for the next two years, you don't get to do that. So, all of those things are in place. There's just a lot of things that could happen and to I don't want to alarm people. I mean, but you know, we'd have to take some precautions against that. Will we have enough money to get through next year? Yes, absolutely. Um because we've been, you know, we we've been good stewards. However, we would have to take some long-term, you know,
058some longer term, well, short-term remedies to do that. And then we'd have to decide, do we put a how large of a levy would you have to put back on the ballot in May? uh getting one done in November may be a little tight. Okay. Um but it may be necessary as we look at that, but there's not that urgency that we'd have to like we couldn't open the doors or anything like that. So, okay. Thank you. In addition to the money issue, I just received a text from Katherine Garvey, who is a former school board member from Sher Falls, that they're putting the it's very likely um coming up that that the legislature will be adding uh a resolution, adding information or adding language that would require that uh when people are running for
059school boards that they designate whether they're Republican or Democrat. We've always been nonpartisan and I think it's important that school board races remain nonpartisan but that is so pay attention and you may want to call uh there's a whole list that I got from Katherine that I did pass on I didn't get to you didn't be glad to pass that on to you that's just another part of what's happening in Columbus these days well because we have learned working together we are very different up here. There I think there there are five very different people sitting on this board. There are two political affiliations but five very different people who are not defined by those political I don't think it's that doesn't tell the story. No. Um and for a long time I mean for
060most of my career nobody knew what my politics were. I made very clear but I had both parties asking me whether uh I wanted money from them to run my campaigns and I said No, I'm not taking any. I'm not taking any. That did not happen to me, just so you know. Well, it hasn't happened for a while. And and we don't I mean, our campaign is not a a high finance campaign. True. It's not like running in a large much larger district, but still hopefully anyone else have anything? This has been a really fun meeting. Well, so along those lines, Kathy, should we just all be planning to run as independents? We can do that. Okay. Superintendent report. Well, I don't have a whole lot to say tonight other than to say um the
061limited amount that I can say about our Ohio um state tests that have come in. We have the preliminary results and we're really not allowed to say anything until fall when all the results are finalized and finished and they've scrubbed the data and examine the data and we've had time to adjust the data. But I will tell you that our our results this year, the preliminary results are are very um very much in the ballpark of what they've been the last three years. So our scores are are are enviable in the minds of many school districts, I'm sure. But I'd be remiss if I didn't uh give a tip of the hat to the high school this year because the high school always seems to have been sort of the the building that well the
062other schools are compensating for the high school, you know, and that's not the case. And I've always been of the opinion that the high school should be our flagship. And this year the high school scores are are very they're tremendous. I can't say a whole lot uh more than that, but uh the scores are are very very good. And that's not to diminish this the accomplishments of of staff in the other buildings, but certainly the high school this year is kind of an outlier in terms of the leaps that they've made uh in terms of their performance index. So, I'm proud of Ryan and all the people who are a part of that. Uh you know, the people that are working in the trenches obviously are our teachers and the support staff keeps our schools
063open. Um and I I've seen a major major cultural shift in that building in the last three years. people are just a lot happier and uh you know happy cows give better milk. So our kids are performing very very well. So congratulations to the high school and uh I'm sure that some of them will be watching this board meeting tonight. So I do want them to know how proud I am of them for what they've done this year. I would like to reiterate that Dr. Markward has a farm so that's a medical in case someone wants to be offended. He h you have cows right? I do have cows. He has cows and they're very happy. I do have cows and it was in no way. They're fairly happy. Yes, they have fans on them,
064you know, tonight. So, they're they're enjoying the Maybe I'll come over and join them. That's true. Okay. Um, uh, border reports. Anybody else have anything? Uh, maybe just to piggy back on what Karen was saying about all this information coming out end of another week or whatever on the finances and we have a meeting July 7th, right? So hopefully then we'll be able to start our understanding of what's going on and we're probably going to need some real discussions amongst the how we're going to handle the finances going forward. Okay, we'll be ready for it. Okay. Um, we are, um, going to have our next board meeting on Monday, July 7th, as Dr. Beer said, 7 p.m. here in the board office community room. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? Is this your last?
065Yes, it is. Notice I'm smiling. In July, but I have my vacation time from July. Gosh darn it. July 3rd through the end of I don't have anything prepared. You don't have to prepare anything. No, no. I mean, I'm gonna have to like wing it, which I'm terrible at. No, that's okay. I Let's Let's We can just lowkey this. I will still be officially the superintendent until the end of July. So, um I've talked to Nancy, I've talked to Karen, and I said, uh I'll probably, you know, drop in for five minutes or so a couple times a week to sign any papers that I have to etc. Um, and I'm always a phone call away. And that that extends, guys, beyond uh beyond the end of July. If you ever need me for anything,
066just in terms of bouncing an ID off me or anything, um, I'm sure you can do so. I'm not going anywhere. Um, Nancy knows that she's got a hotline to me whenever she needs it, and I think that she will need it very, very, very, very, very seldom because she is so well prepared to take over this district. So, I'm very uh, I'm pleased that she's the who's going to be following me and I expect great things for West Chiaga moving forward. She has a tremendous support staff. Yes. I think so. Sincerely, when when we met 12, 13 years ago, we were 133 in the state and um I was on my way out the door unwillingly, but here I am now, so it doesn't matter. It was a reduction in force. It was based
067on seniority. I keep saying that. Bad way to meet, but It was not it was not the greatest start but I have been so blessed with um being a part of this team from the different angles right being a teacher here for four years was like my greatest joy in my teaching career to teach at the school that I graduated from was is I mean it's something special it's really good um and to to watch the team that has developed the the expectations that continue to rise, our ability to not accept mediocrity for our kids, um when that's so easy to to do really. And we ask them for more and we ask our staff to do more. And because we trust our staff, they trust us and they they do what needs to be
068done. And and I would say, Dr. Markart, that it is in large part because you have developed a team that allows this to happen. And I am so grateful that my daughters were able to go through this school and benefit from the education that I was able to benefit from, you know, many moons ago. But it's it's a it's a legacy what what we're doing here. And as a resident, as a parent, as a alum, I'm I'm grateful to you. Thank you. Thank you. There's nothing that could be said that would be nicer than that. So impromptu as it was, I appreciate it. Thank you. did very well. I do not always. I'm not getting a transportation is always we are always hiring anything we needed within reason. You can drive a horse trailer. You
069can drive a bus. Thanks. Okay. Anything else? Now, do we have a resolution to adjourn? So move. Second. Okay. Call the RO, please. Mrs. Clay, yes. Mrs. Coleman Walsh, yes. Miss Lever, yes. Mrs. Sherwood, yes. Dr. Beers, yes. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.