001All right. I would like to welcome everyone to the West Board of Education business meeting. Today is October 1st. Uh, roll call, please. >> Mrs. Gibson, >> here. >> Mr. >> Here. Mrs. Miller, >> here. >> Mr. M >> here. >> Mr. Sh >> here. >> All right. Can you please stand for the pledge of allegiance? I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> All right. >> Okay. So, we have a little list of uh of introductions. So, I'll just get started with that. I'll start with Jack Hey over there. So, just moving right down the line here, we have Jack Hey, our business manager. We have Dr. Robin Jordan, which is
002our curriculum director. We have Miss Becky German. She's our director of student services. We have Devon Barry, which is our director of human resources. Moving right along, we got Ava Croninw. I got that right. Look at that. We got Haley Schustster. And I'm g go attempt it. We got Daniela Rodriguez Vasquez. >> I'm practicing practicing. >> And those are our student reps. And then moving right down the line from there, we got Miss Lori Gibson, board member. We got Dr. Andrea Towns, our superintendent. We have me. I'm the also a board member here. And we have Leslie Miller, our vice president. and we have John Llewellyn, another board member. Moving down the line, we have Angie Shockley, another board member. And then last but not least, of course, we have Ryan Slot, our treasurer. And
003then with that, we have our agenda, and there's no addendas. So, I need a motion. Second move. >> Second. >> Okay, we'll go further. >> Mrs. Gibson, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Miller. >> Yes. Mr. M. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sher. >> Yes. >> All right. We have no comments relating to the U agenda items. So, we'll move on to our communications update. Janine's already ready. >> I'm ready. >> Always ready. All >> yours. I try. >> Okay. Here we go. So, here's some ways you can stay in touch with the school district. We have stories on our website at west carltonschools.com. You can also check out Facebook at Wisconsin City Schools, XWC City Schools, and Instagram at WC City Schools. You can also find your school on our website. Just click
004on the school at the top of the menu bar and you can then choose your school to find out what's happening. And don't forget to download those apps, West Carlton Schools on either Google or Apple. I wanted to get show you some scenes from homecoming, including some school board members and their special t-shirts. Um, I think mine got, you know, back order, but just saying. >> And we want to thank everyone for coming out um on Friday night to support the Pirates. And we have Alana who was crowned homecoming queen and Amarian who was uh crowned homecoming king. Sign note about those two. Um I haven't told you this before but each of them was recognized by the Miami Valley High School Theater Awards with a merit for lead actress. That was for Alana and
005Amarian with a merit for lead actor for their roles in the spring musical Mean Girls. So that's that's a really nice award. schools from all across Miami Valley competed for that. And I also want to point out there's Miss Basala who was selected to be the grand marshall of the parade. And you might see we have homecoming royalty with us. And I also I already told Haley sorry I didn't know the horse was way at the front and I missed the horse this year. I'm really disappointed. So, we want to congratulate the whole homecoming court. Tomorrow is school custodian appreciation day. So, we want to give a shout out to those folks. Um, Miss Judith from the Early Childhood Center, she's on the left. Miss Sunshine from the high school. They're just two of the
006building custodians throughout the district. and they are all the fearless combatants of overflowing trash cans, sticky lunchroom floors, and whatever atrocity may happen in the restroom. That's just an ordinary day for these folks, and we want to show our appreciation to them. If you see a school custodian, be sure to thank them. So, October is a busy month. It's also National Principal Month. And um yeah, I I wanted to show you kind of with our principles. Okay, we're here at the elementary office. We see Mr. Toby is a Cleveland Browns fan. And um Oh. Oh, we have Who do we have? We have superheroes here. They are amongst us this month. Can you tell me what do you do as a superhero? >> World problems. Right. There's our signal. That's our superhero signal that we
007have another issue to resolve. We are summoned. >> We are summoned. And you know what? >> It's the building. >> The building problems. But if you start at the building, then you save the world, right? >> Ultimately. Ultimately. So, do you know where the principal and assistant principal might be? >> Have not seen them since 7:30 this morning. >> Do you think they're attending to the problem? Maybe. >> Probably not. So, we want to give a shout out to all of them. Thank you for being our superheroes, including Mr. White, who would not put on the mask. He said, "I pulled out the cape." He's like, "No, no, >> you can take my picture, but no. Thank you." Anyway, Mr. So, I also wanted to remind everybody pirates wear pink and it's my personal goal
008to wear something pink every day in October. That's why I have pink on my shirt here. And there will be a pink out game October 10th for the football game. October dates to know October 16th the first quarter ends. October 17th, no school QP day. October 20th, this is second quarter begins. So, transitioning from the intermediate school to the middle school. We have Miss Satie Borders in the house and I spoke with her. I told her that I would be playing a video of our conversation at the school board meeting. So, I'm really glad she's here tonight. So, here we go. And today's spirit day. You're in your pajamas. >> Yeah. >> Do you like the spirit day activities? What else are they doing here at the middle school? >> Tomorrow is dressing Friday. So
009tomorrow and then Thursday is go back Thursday. So you just decade and then uh Friday is like you wear black because there's black. >> Are you going to the parade this week? >> Yeah, I have to walk. >> Okay. >> Are you going to go to the football game too? >> I think so. >> You were telling me a little bit about what you think. is special about West Carolton. Can you repeat that? >> I think uh it's pretty special because we're not like that big of a district and I feel like everybody like everybody really knows each other. Like other districts like you don't like you only know a couple people but like um everybody knows like everybody like the seventh graders are the eighth graders, the eighth graders are the seventh graders, every
010high school knows each other and a lot of people are like kind of related like How is it transitioning to seventh grade? You came to a new building this year. >> Do you like this new building? >> Yeah, I think it's pretty cool. >> Yeah, it's pretty big. >> So, this is a lot bigger building. >> Have you gotten lost? Did you get lost during your first week? >> I went into the wrong class on the first day. >> Okay. I do that still over here. Somebody says go to the library and it's which which building or which part of the building How do I get there from here? So, >> yeah. Um I have a math class on the second floor >> and me and my friend both had us together and we tried
011to walk up there uh before Princess and we had a whole new hallway. We couldn't get to our class. >> I know there's a lot of dead ends or it's almost like a maze. Next year you'll get to go to the new middle school high school. Are you excited about that? >> Yeah, I think that'll be cool. It's like going from fourth grade to fifth grade. >> Right. Right. And so from here on out after this year, you will be in brand new building the whole time. So that's that's really Would you tell your friends if you have a friend living outside the school district, would you tell them this is a great place to be? >> Yeah, it's a great place to be. So I want to thank s and I know our school
012board they always appreciate these videos and I can come and tell them stories but they'd rather hear it from you. So thank you Satie. >> Thank you. >> So who is showing pirate pride? I did find out tonight this button isn't working for some reason. I'll being into that tomorrow. But once it's working, you can nominate someone on our homepage for a pirate pride award. So that brings us to today. So I'm going to read something. I am proud to nominate my daughter for the Pirate Pride Award. This is one of our first nominations, too. She has been a dedicated member of the Pirate family since the age of four and continues to embody the spirit, leadership, and excellence that define our school community. As an incoming seventh grader, do you kind of have a
013feeling who who that might be? I don't know. She has consistently demonstrated academic excellence, maintaining stellar grades throughout both elementary and intermediate school. She's been recognized for her efforts by receiving student of the month during both years at the intermediate level. A testim excuse me, a testament to her hard work, character, and positive attitude. Her commitment to leadership and service is evident through her two years of active involvement in student council where she helped lead and organize various school initiatives. She also proudly represented her peers as part of a group of students chosen to present school clubs to the school board. She was here last year, showcasing her confidence and communication skills. She's been a dedicated member of the drone club for the past two years, consistently bringing creativity, curiosity, and collaboration to the group.
014Her school pride shines during every spirit day and themed week where she always participates with enthusiasm and joy. Beyond school, she excuse me. Beyond school, she volunteers regularly and helps organize community events and service projects, showing a heart for giving back and making a difference. She truly represents what it means to be a pirate. Hardworking, compassionate, spirited, and a natural leader. I can think of no one more deserving of this recognition. Satie, we kind of brought you here under false pretenses. I her mom and I talked last week and we said, "Oh, you know, we'll just tell her we're going to play that movie at the schoolboard meeting." So, I don't know if you told Satie or not, but Satie, please come on up. We're going to present you with the pirate brain award. So,
015here are a few other things you might want to know about Satie. She was chosen as our first student spotlight of the year. Math is her favorite subject, and she would like to eventually go to college to become an engineer. You can see it right here. She would like to eventually go to college to become an engineer and build bridges. She participated in the STO STEM club and drone competitions when she was at the intermediate school. and she's currently on the volleyball team and looking forward to trying out for softball. So, congratulations. You didn't know this was coming, did you? She had no clue when I went over to talk to her that she had been nominated and that was my reasoning for going to see her. So, Satie, anything you want to say? Satie's
016very quiet. She's very Okay, Miss Satie, we have a certificate for you. Pirate Pride Award. The West Carlton Board of Education recognizes Satie Borders with sincere appreciation for continually showing pirate pride and being a role model for those around her. So, you get this special certificate and we have a special coin that says you are showing pride in your West Carson schools and also Thank you. You're very welcome. >> And so with that being said, there's Satie, the picture I took of her that day. We're going to try to get a better one tonight. And just a reminder, be safe, be respectful, be responsible, be kind. >> Wow. How cool. >> Congratulations. Now, I'm guessing you guys are probably going to get a photo. >> Yes, we're going to take Satie for a photo. >>
017So, excuse me. Good job. >> You guys have a great night. >> Hey, take care. Okay. >> How exciting. >> All right. Well, we'll keep moving along and we're going to have a presentation now, but Dave White and it's going to be over our points of pride. Thanks for coming over. got to load my PowerPoint. Um I was we get to choose our topic each year's principles of of what we want to cover in these points of pride and I have a a burning passion for achievement. I don't know that you could explain it any other way. I think I've drowned Dr. hasn't done all summer with our report card data, breaking it down, reading the ways, changing it, questioning things. Um, so tonight it's it's not all good news, but but what it is
018is a good start. I want to say it that way. I don't want you to think that the glasses have to empty because it's actually full. But when we talk about points of pride, I think one of the the greatest things that happened for me is the young lady's mother mentioned academic excellence, good grades, student of the month. And a lot of times achievement people people feel achievement when they pass that test with an A. When they do their presentation and get an A, when the report cards are all A's, when you win the football game, when you win the basketball game, there's that sense of pride. Even the kids that that participate in one of the things I noticed is like the musical, if you ever stay for that last night when they finished
019the musical, the pride that is pouring out of them because of what they achieved and how hard they worked for that. So, I drive my staff nuts as Miss Woody will tell you when I start talking through passing rates report card because we're whether we like it or not, we're compared to every other school district in this state. And we are supposed to be teaching the state standards like every other school in the state, every other public school. Let me say that. So, one of the things that I wanted to share tonight was like where what we've done, what we're currently doing, and then a few things as a principle of where I think we can make the jump that we need to make. Um, and once again, I drive the high school nuts because
020I take there's about 29 to 30 high schools within the area. I take 26 of that 30 and I compare us against every measure on the report card. So we look at the performance index, we look at the algebra one scores, we look at the growth index, we look at all those things to see how we rank and where we fall. And it's important to do that because if we're going to have that pirate pride and we're going to be proud of who we are, we have to be better than some people. It's just that mechanism or that culture that once you start realizing that you can be better than other people or achieve more then you can start developing your own standard of achievement and then now we're comparing ourselves against our own measures.
021So tonight I wanted to show you this is the district data for this year on the ELA passing rates. So what you try to look for is consistency. So, we're averaging about 50% that are actually passing the ELA test from third grade to 10th grade. Um, you can see the high school is a little bit higher than everyone else, but fifth grade was right there with us. I always look at it this way. If I know I've got 50% where I need them to be, where's the other 50? What is it that we need to do to help the other 50 achieve those higher scores? So part of what I'm going to get into in a minute is to show you the ELA and the math. It's like in the math it's it's a little
022different. U we're averaging about 44 or 45% passing rate across on average, but once again you're sitting in that range. Okay, we've got this group that's passing. What is it that we need to do with the next group? So the first thing you have to look at is who are the ones that need the most help? So, one of the things that comes on the report card that I break down every year is identify and closing those gaps. Who are the kids that are struggling? What are the subgroups? What are the goals that we need to set for them? And what are the goals the state has set for them? So, once we start identifying those those subgroups, so to speak, just so you know, I let Blake do my PowerPoint. Bill, >> I thought
023this was all you do. I told her, I said, "If I do this, it's going to be white screen." She's like, "Give it to me." I said, "Okay." So, so one of the things, and I'm going to show math tonight, is that you get a certain amount of points for your score. So, if you get a 700 to like a 715, you are proficient. You get one point. If you score above the 715 to a certain range and get accomplished, it's worth 1.1 points. If you score way above proficient and accomplished, you get advanced. It's worth 1.2 1.2 points. And then finally, advanced plus, which I've never been able to achieve in my own life, but we have kids that did achieve 100 1.3 points. So they add all those points up and it creates
024your index. So each kid is graded out this way. So, if you have an uber smart group of sophomores like we did, we got so many advance points this year more than last year that most people that are friends of mine, they're principles stop talking to me because I was talking trash like there's no more like our kids did great. So even the accomplish so you get those points it creates the index score and from there you have your goal for I know that's hard to read but this is the state mandated goal for those gaps. So when you start looking at the state goal, you may have 60. I want to do a different one tonight. You may have got to balance my glasses. For our multi-racial group, the goal was 67.76 on their
025index. So all of the students who are listed themselves as multi-racial, their scores went through that rubric and you got their index. So you had to compare that against what the state put in place and then it would come out on the report card as that measure. Now I'm not going to school you guys on all this tonight. I want to go up there so bad right now. So one of the things that that I wanted to make a point to is that our district has a huge demographic. We have multi-racial, we have black, we have white, we have Hispanic, we have EL, U, we have special ed or students with disabilities. Um, I'm missing one in there. Multi-racial is another one. We have actually eight subgroups, not including um economically deficient, which makes it
026nine. So each of those subgroups has set goals by the state and if you hit those goals, you get points. So when you look at at like the growth index or excuse me the the gap index for us we hit about 40% of those goals but so the other subgroups are struggling but what that allows you to do is figure out who we need to target to provide intervention. Who do we need to target to put an inclusion? Like one of the things and if Becky wasn't sitting there I'd say it anyways. I think Becky's been a champion of taking those students with disabilities and moving them into an inclusion setting so they're getting the same curriculum, the same instruction. So, we're it's going to take a minute, but we'll see an increase in that
027subgroup schools. So, you put them in that. And then we did the same thing with the EL students as well. So, they have inclusion classes as well. So, I think that initiative to address some of this is there. And then I asked the the principles, you know, each one of them, what are you doing in math and science or excuse me, math and science, math and English to improve the scores. So, you'll see that in a minute, but the idea is is just by looking at this slide, you have districts in Ohio that have one bar. There's one, one for math, one for English, one. And then you have us who has eight and other districts that may have four. But the bottom line is is that all of us are measured the same way
028on the same report card. So when we talk about achievement for us, we have to look at it like this is what we've accomplished with the with these challenges and how we're addressing it, but also know that that you're going to have other districts that that get all their points from one group. So while that's a little lopsided, it is what it is. So when we score on average, I'm going back to the high school. When we scored When when I ranked this app, we ended up about six 14 on some, 16 on other out of the 26 high schools. We were right there on average, which I know I'm supposed to be okay with, but I'm not. I want us in the top 10, and I'm driving everybody in that direction. So, when we
029put these initiatives together and look at this data, I feel really good about where we're at. I think 512, is that right, Becky? 512 on inclusion. >> Yeah. >> Right. So adding that inclusion piece, we'll after the teachers get used to and get good at it, two to three years from now, we'll start really hitting those gap goals across a lot of those measures or a lot of those subgroups. But achievement wise, everybody needs to understand like even though we're around the 50% range, the things we're putting in pushes it up to the to the 70 to 80% range if we do it right. And once we're there, we're not a threear district. We're a four and a half to a fivestar district because that's the average you got to be is that 80 to
03085% in all measures. I may have spent the summer working on this. I'm just saying. Had fun, I think. But that's my thing is is that to put pride in our kids and we talked about that as a staff. How do we get kids being being proud of being a West Carolton Pirate? Okay, it's achievement because they because trust and believe when we have the class meetings and I go over this with them, they want to know what they need to do to get us moving up because they're very proud of who they are. They're very proud to be a pirate, but we need to be better. And that's what that's that push that I get from the high school. Elementary wise, um Brad gave me this. The first thing we're working on this year
031is we have a new math curriculum we're putting in. Um, we have it also all the way up to the high school. So, they're getting used to a new book. Um, reading wise, they use what I need. Um, they have lit coordinators, small group instruction. All of those things are going on at the elementary. So, we have pieces that that we're putting in there. Middle school. Um, a lot of what I talked to Eric about was just that the first three bullets of the vocab, the anticipation guides, the gist summaries where they're chunking, you know, they're reading chunks of the text and then discussing it. A lot of that's happening at the high school level, too. So, as you've got those demographic, those subgroups are in our classes. They're all going through this type of
032instruction. And then also in the inclusion classes, they're getting that support they need as well. So every kid is exposed to the same instruction. And that equitable approach is what we need to be doing to increase achievement. And then in math, we're implementing, like I said, the new books, the uh co-eing systems in place. And I'm going to brag for a minute. I would say this even though she's not, you know, she's in the room, but if you watch Michaela Woody's class with Miss Pullman and Miss Melman, they are a true model of inclusion teaching. You can never tell who's the teacher in that room. They all three are working together. The kids, I think we've we've come to the room once and we were talking before, you could hear me laughing. There was all
033this ruckus in the room yesterday morning and the principal was ready to make a move cuz I thought something was happening, but it was good noise. The kids were debating the the solutions. They were working through it together. So, there's a lot of pieces that we have that are going to bear fruit in the coming years to push those scores up to raise that level of achievement. So, I'm very excited with what's been going on. And for us, like I said, Woody's just a good example of what she's done in her room. Um, I handed over, thanks to Robin, we handed over Procore, one of our uh, progress monitoring assessments. So, the teachers are now assessing the kids along the way, reading the data, going through it, making decisions, and adjusting their instruction. That's this
034year. So, they're not going to be good at it yet, but we'll get there. But once again, our full inclusion, um, it has been it's been better than I expected, but I think it's something, like I said, over the next two or three years, we'll get really good at it. So, I don't know where she was going with this. So, one of the things that that I put on here is go through all those initiatives and the and the initiatives, but also going forward, I can tell you right now, teacher attendance is huge. >> For us to raise that bar, we need everybody at work every day. And I know that's not possible because they have kids and people get sick and all that. I understand. But every day we don't have a teacher, we
035miss a day of instruction. And I absolutely lose my mind over that because we're we're right there. We're not starting at zero. We're starting at 50 and we're within reach of becoming a very high performing district. We just got to get get everybody there and on board. Um I think the second initiative that would help is and he's sitting here Devon's um task of retaining talent. You know, we have some really good teachers and I'm telling you out there right now finding candidates for jobs is extremely difficult, especially in special ed. So, when we have a really good teacher, if we have that talent, we need to start thinking through how we're going to retain. And I think, you know, when we have the strategic plan where that needs to be a part of it.
036Um, you know, Woody's a good example of that. She's a very good teacher. She's a young teacher, but it's not going to be long before somebody calls her with an opportunity. We want to retain her and keep building her up. Um, and building that strategic plan around achievement. I've been through the OSBA strategic planning process before, and I think one of the big things I had a concern about is can we stay on achievement? Can we stay on curriculum instruction? Can we can we write out a five-year plan that builds the achievement? in this district. You know, you can pick and choose all the the flowery stuff, but the last time I went through it, I think it was the last time I was invited to the meeting, I stood up and just went off
037because if you're going to build pride in kids, they have to feel achievement. Stop worrying about what we're doing the first 10 minutes of the day across the district. Worry about what we're teaching and how we're teaching it. and and you know it nobody wanted to hear that because touching this this rail requires guts. It requires everybody to commit to measures that you either hit or you don't hit. And and it's just something I think I hope we can get to that tomorrow night. But I also wanted to to give u a shout out to not just retaining the talent that we have but also building it. I have four of those certified pairs that Devon started that program with. When I tell you all four will be dynamic teachers for us in this district.
038They don't want to go anywhere else. I hope we can keep building that program because I'm looking at one that'll be a special ed teacher. Um he's got some growing to do, but I think he'll be fine. I got another one that now wants to be in business and the teacher he's shadowing is a previous certified parent. So, we have pieces that we can take. If you look at this data, how are we going to make it better? It's the talent that we have in the district and it's the plan we lay out over the next five years that focuses on these measures. So, I think we're in great shape. I I honestly believe after my phone rings with other districts asking me questions about actually principal, I don't know what this is. >> It's
039Elmo. >> I blame Deon. I don't know. But >> see, I can't even talk with that thing. >> I told Blake, I said, "Do whatever you want because I'll just make it this won't look like me." But I I do beg that to all to everyone who's listening like we're in a good position to grow. I've got a good solid group of seniors, good solid group of juniors. Our freshman have surprised us and and and come in. They're going through the growing pains, but they're going to be okay. and the and the ones that really gave us run from Armani last year are really doing well and they're going to have a bad first quarter and Mr. White's going to have a moment and then we're going to be fine. We're going to be fine.
040But I think systemwide we have the right people in the right places. We have all the tools that have been provided to us. We just need to lay it out in that plan and then make sure we're taking care of our talent. I didn't say retain staff. I said retain talent and there's there's a difference there and and I just think doing this presentation and talking through it over and over again in my head and looking at things. The challenge is obviously our diversity. But we've got people that know how to address that now. We just got to give them all the training and the tools to do it. And Dr. Jordan, see I can remember laughing. They're good right there. We talked this morning about this and just being patient and building it the
041right way through that strategic plan. So that's my presentation. I thank you for listening. >> I know I get you don't want to know what I do with the report card, but that's okay. But thank you. >> Wow. >> Thank you so much, Mr. >> Well, and it's nice to hear that um you know, your focus on education and the report card is the same as ours, right? I mean, we're all here for the same reason. for these kids and there's something beautiful in that. So, really thank you. >> You said we're in a good spot. We just got to take that next step. >> Yeah. Keep going. And before we move on, I saw that we have the thing outside of our we updated the uh what you callanner was updated. >> So, you
042haven't seen this yet. This is the tennis Am I allowed to give up? >> Yes. >> We were came in second at the coaches cup tournament a couple weeks ago. >> Nice. >> And five of our seven girls received medals as well. >> Did they really? >> Yes, they did. >> They didn't tell me. >> They earned it, too. I'm going to get them. >> And yesterday was our sectionals. And we had two that won their first match and went on to play the second. They lost their second, but they one of them was u >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> I didn't want to get in your camera. Go ahead. First one was >> one of the the uh the first one was Deja Glover. >> Yeah. uh for first singles and the second was
043an unlikely uh doubles team, Fiola Ellie and Ellie Stoer who is a freshman and she has only had a racket in her hand for two months now >> and together they beat Middletown in three sets and went on to play Beaver Creek. >> Nice. >> So I was very very proud of them. Everybody was proud of them. uh they get accolades for their sportsmanship and uh that makes me very happy as a coach. I also came back to watching them doing their homework while they were waiting to go on and right now with the exception of one all of them have over a three-point average and we even have a 4.0 in there. So >> that's good. >> So this was my year for tennis. Like I I rotate volleyball, golf, then tennis. >> Yes.
044You You made it to quite a few. >> Yeah. So this year I was doing more more than that because volleyball is mad at me right now >> cuz I haven't been there. I haven't been over. So that's good. That's impressive. >> And the freshman um one of them um Jasmine Bowman uh learned that she needs to turn in her items instead of keeping them in her backup. >> Yes. She wanted to go to home. >> Yes. And and she's doing very well now and so is Ellie, my two freshman. So the the girls did very well and Isabella Cop will be our new um uh pre captain. Yes. And Sophia Aguar is going to be the co- captain. >> Well, as long as you're bringing the dog, I think Sophia will be all right.
045>> Oh, yes. Yes. my my little dog Oliver, she loves. So, they they did a really good I was a very proud coach uh that many I had no expectations of them doing as well as they did. And my motto is always that we learn and we advance our game incrementally every match we play to be our very best selves at the MBL tournament and sectionals. And we were >> achieved that. This was four schools that we were up against. And uh the nice thing about >> um what >> five total schools? >> No. Uh four total. So, but the the nice thing is in the coaches cup um I'm able to set the level that they play at. So, these schools were all the exact same level as we are. And so, that took
046a very, very long day. we were out there forever. Um, and it they came out victorious and they really hung in there and they cheered each other on and became a a team. I always say I have the international tennis team >> and >> well and then they all talk like they when the game's over, the first set is over, they go to the net and then there's a 10-minute conversation. How was your day? They talk to each other and then I'm like, are we It's going to get dark soon and we're still playing because they talk. They're just the nicest group of girls. >> Yes, they are. >> Wow. >> I'm very happy. And they are so excited about their new tennis courts over at the high school next year. Um, so they're they're
047really happy about that. >> Yes, they are. >> That's I just wanted to >> What? You didn't even go to >> I That's a long story short. My nieces got me on that. I had the wrong night, but I'll be there. What we got? Next Tuesday. >> What? Thursday. >> Yeah, I'll be there. >> You're a busy man, aren't you? >> We just got a promise out of it. Yeah. >> Thursday. Next Thursday. Next Thursday. >> Hey, that's better than that, I guess. She's have a very special senior. That's for sure. >> All right. Thank you so much. No problem. We appreciate >> you in the morning. >> All right. We'll proceed with business portion of our meeting here and uh we're going to go on to number nine which is just a discussion. We
048won't have a vote um but we will be voting later uh tonight. So it'll be over some of our policies. >> Yes, thank you. Um most of these policies are um consolidations and clean up of language. So I apologize there are some that are rescended and I will try not to miss. Thank you. Um policy 1613 3213 and 4213 is the supervision and welfare of students and they've um added the definition of what it means to groom a student and how we have to notify parents when that happens. Um policy 1422 3122 and 4122 is the non-discrimination and the equal employment opportunity anti-harassment is a replacement policy excuse me 14220 and 412202 are rescended policy 1662 3362 and 4362 are also rescended and they're going into the policies that were replacements. Policy 2260 is um
049has the addition of the United States Department of Education um new address and change of the pronouns policy 22601. It's the section 5048. Um That's the same thing. Department of Education address was changed and the pronouns were changed. Policy 1623, 3123 and 4123. Um, also technical corrections, the US DOE and the um address and pronouns. Um, policy two, there's a lot of them. Policy 2266 um is a revised policy and it changed the definition of bondling. I apologize for that. And the term is now officially a criminal criminal sexual contact. Um, also the words sexual orientation and gender identity were removed and the address was changed for the United States Department of Education to DC. All the other ones policy 24302 um participation of community STEM and home educ students um in the new House
050Bill 96 only home educated students can participate in districts um and students from other qualifying districts are no longer eligible. which is too bad unless they play hockey. That's a whole another story because we don't have a hockey team. Um policy 2431, intercolastic athletics. Um same um information, home educated students only. Students from other qualifying districts are no longer eligible to play in our teams. Policy 331 or sorry 3130 based on the best interest of students. This is assignment and transfer that are enrolled in our district. Um when we reassign students, we only have one school for each grade band, so it doesn't really affect us. Uh policy 5130 withdraw students from school. Um we no longer can report students who leave school at the age of 18 to the Department of Motor Vehicles to
051take their license. So we didn't usually do that. We did and we will continue doing that. Um, personal communication devices. This is the new release stating that schools cannot have cell phones unless there is an emergency or health concern during the instructional day. So, our policy already matched that. >> You didn't say the number. >> Oh, sorry. 5136. Thank you. Um, but if there's an emergency lockdown situation, kids could call their parents. um 5200. Um it's related to the attendance rules for the attendance improvement plans. We're not really changing ours because we don't meet the 5% of the state's minimum hours of instruction. So, we're keeping our um AIPs at the school and our notifications will be the same because I don't think we can notify parents enough when kids miss school. Policy 5223 time
052for religious instruction. It says that students can have at least one period per week um but no more than two. Um I also have in our policy that they cannot bring food back. They can bring their educational program materials but no food due to allergies for our students. Um because we have several if you walk around the buildings. Policy 5330, I added the word bus aid for seizure medication. Policy 5410. This one I missed last time. Pronoun changes. Something exciting. Policy 6109. Um, we can now accept payment of credit cards. We already do this in the spirit store. Um, policy 6152. Um, it's nothing more than a technical correction with the pronouns and 830 is an audit if our treasurer leaves. >> I'm sorry. 6830. Thank you. Um I'm stuck on the 5,000 because it's
053students. So if the treasurer leaves um we have to do an audit policy 75402 um digital content and accessibility. It's been revised to um say that the US Department of Justice, the DOJ under title two ADA requiring state and local government entities and public schools to make web content and mobile applications. It's we've been doing that for years. So ours is ADA compliant policy 8300 um 8305 and 8400 are all related to I'm going to back up. Uh 8300 8305 are related to the cyber security program in House Bill 96 where we're working with Roger to have a tech team um and we're we have to have specific requirements in case um we have a security breach such as King policy 8400 school safety. This is enabling students to use their cell during an active
054threat or emergency. Policy 8462, student abuse and neglect. Um, we no longer have to have law enforcement do our training. Public school works is fine, but public school works uses law enforcement to do that training. Policy is in effect July 1st of 2025, letting students on non-rine trips have food and snacks as long as their chaperon is on the bus. Policy 9270. Um this is the equivalent education outside the school and participation extracurricular activities for students not enrolled in the district. The new law clarifies that home educated students may participate in junior ROC and um without being enrolled in the district, which is nice um for homeschooled students. And it also allows students who receive the John Peterson scholarship and the autism scholarship to participate um but still leaves restrictions to practice sports and things
055to homeschool students. Um and that's it. Nice. >> I know that was a long list. >> Does anyone have any questions, >> comments? >> Basically, Neil is just trying to clean their stuff up, >> which I really really like because I do think he we make so many policies that we policy our policy. It's nice that they're actually cleaning things up a little bit because you know our seat is the same this big we can we could take all that out. So all right well with no further discussion from anyone no questions we'll move right along then number 10 which is uh for oh the minutes >> I asked the board approve the minutes of the regular meeting held on September 17 >> move second >> I don't think there's anything to add is there
056>> there is not >> okay so >> Mr. >> yes >> Mrs. Yes, >> Mr. M. >> Yes, >> Mr. Shockley. >> Yes, >> Mr. Gibson. >> Yes. >> All right. Item number 11 deals with some personnel items. >> Good evening. >> Superintendent recommends that the board approve the following personnel items 11A through 11B. >> Salute. >> Second. >> All right. Anything you want to add to this? >> I just want to push Karen Walker. um happy retirement. However, that she won't be leaving us until the end of the year. So, I'm happy that she told us because now we know that that is the spot that we need to fill in the spring. Any other discussion? All right. Mrs. Miller, >> yes. >> Mr. M. >> Yes. Mr. Sher. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gibson.
057>> Yes. >> Mr. Wall. >> Yes. All right. Item number 12. also deals with some personnel items. >> The superintendent recommends that the board approve the following personnel items 12 A through 12 C. >> So move second. >> Anything like to add to this one? >> Yeah. Uh well supplementals that are mostly classroom based supplements teachers. >> Yeah. A lot of them it looks like a lot of good stuff. >> For sure. >> All right. Any further discussion for a vote? Mr. Mu? >> Yes. >> Mr. Shocker? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gibson? >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Miller? >> Yes. >> All right. Item number 13 is Key Behavior Services. Thank you. >> Sure. Good evening. The superintendent recommends that the board approved the agreement with Key Behavior Services, KBS, for the
0582526 school year as presented. So, >> all right. Sorry. Their shirts really mean what they uh what they do because they've been motioning. >> Do we just need to do this? >> Yeah. Yeah. Just hold up your shirt. >> If you guys don't know, you'll know. Um Yeah. Her shirt says motion and then her sister. >> So, I'm so sorry. >> I'm obain. But we don't have any of those tonight. So, >> so you just sit there and be quiet. >> Yeah. Sorry. That just made me laugh. a quote. Yeah, >> you'll hear that soon. Trust me. Uh any discussion with that? I'm sorry. >> Sure. Key behavior um provides us with um behavior supports services in our schools real targeted for students with significant behavioral issues and helps do functional behavior assessments, behavior intervention
059plans for students mostly with who may have autism or similar disability that is presenting itself with any discussion? I know it seems like a pretty in-depth service. >> Seems like they do a lot to look into. >> All right. All right. Do you want me to say like >> chocolate? >> Mr. Yes. Oh wow. >> So for those who don't know, Ryan shirt is really impressive. It says uh >> now everyone gets it. >> For those that get it, they get it. >> The camera. All right. Item number 14 deals with learning West Becky. >> Sure. The superintendent recommends that the board approve the agreement with Cat Catapult Learning West LLC for the 2526 school year as presented. >> Second. Get one of these in. >> You got a shirt. >> Mine I don't know
060what mine says or if I even have one, but it probably should say aloha. That means goodbye. Wow. >> It actually had to do with pirate parts. >> Oh, lack thereof, I guess. >> Uhuh. Or something. >> Uhuh. >> Plus the rhymes. Yeah. Um, anything you would like to add to that, Becky? >> Sure. This contract um provides equitable non-public services um for students who are residents of West Carolton but attend Valleymies they opted into services. So we raising some of our monies to provide services to their students who are residents of West. >> All right, we'll move forward then. >> Mrs. Gibson, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Miller, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. Mr. Ch. >> Yes. >> All righty. Item number 15 deals with transportation contracts. Jack. >> Um,
061the superintendent recommends the approval of the following transportation contract with senior assistance for the 2526 school year as presented. >> So move second. >> All right. Anything you like to add to that, J? >> No, just you'll see a few more of these as we go, but this is just providing services and we just can't don't have enough buses or enough people to to handle all of them right now. Most of the students are going to um >> Cincinnati or Westchester Mason >> to special education meets. >> Is that daily? >> Wow. >> All right. With no other questions, we'll move on to Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miller. >> Yes. >> Mr. Me? >> Yes. Mr. Shocker? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Gibson? >> Yes. >> All right. Item number 16. We we did the
062discussion earlier about it, but now it's the time for a vote and that is going over the policies. Andy, >> thank you. Um, I made a motion and a second that the board adopts as presented the proposed policies of the West Carolton Board of Education. >> So, move second. >> I know you did a lot of talking. Is there anything else you'd like to add? >> No, they're really just cleaning up policies, which is nice. >> That is good to see. All right. Well, we'll move on for a vote then. >> Mrs. Miller, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Sher, >> yes. >> Mrs. Gibson, >> yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> All righty. We're going to be moving right along to comments and reports. Sex, do you guys have anything you like
063to report? >> Yes. >> So, I have one thing. It was me and Miss Alan went into the carrying closet this Monday and we organized the shelf and it looks a lot neater. >> So that's part of our um Mondays going in there every Monday after school. And so um Ava and I had some conflict um conflicts, but from here on out we should pretty much all be there on Mondays. Um so we're working on getting um some new better organization. We're going to get shelves hopefully um that's in the works. Um just updating some of the stuff in there, getting some new baskets just so it looks clean and organized and welcoming, decorated really nice. Um we are looking for perfumes and cologne is what we're um needing most of right now. So if
064you have any >> Yeah. So, um, if you have any like Bath and Body Works perfumes that are sitting around that you've never touched, um, uh, those are good. Um, and then we have no waste cologne at all. So, um, if we could get some of that in, that would be great. Um, we don't want half full bottles of stuff that's unused, but um, that would be great. And then, um, we are working on also, um, with the new shelf, we'll have a, um, shelf dedicated to, um, school supplies. So, it won't be a lot, but we'll get some new school supplies in there. Um, and some we're going to make some business cards, so we'll have those to hand out. >> Um, and working on an email um that's a Karen closet email. So,
065that'll be direct contact and getting some new social medias up and running. We had some last year, but we're going to create some new ones. And then we're going to do a toothbrush drive and hand out toothbrushes during lunch with um our business cards and um carrying lots of information on them. So hopefully that'll um get some communication out. In the last week um we're really trying to enforce any teacher or adult um that takes a child in there to take something out of the closet that they fill out the the form. So that way we can just keep track. And um over the last week, we've had uh four people that we know of that are confirmed because they filled out the papers. So um we are definitely serving people. Um and let's see,
066I think that's it. Okay. And then National Honor Society. Um we're selling pinkout shirts through this week and next week and bracelets for the game. And then there is the pending of the new new members this Friday. Um when school starts. So, uh the current members will just come into the new members classroom and send them and then um that next Monday is the induction. So, we'll officially have new NHS members and then we're going to work with NHS to um allow them to come help on Mondays after school during closet time. So, >> wow. >> That's it. >> That's incredible. Yeah. I'm telling you that every single time we do this, just more and more amazing stuff happen. >> One more thing, me and Miss Alan went through a whole trash bag full and
067like half of it was adult clothes, like adult adult clothes. So, please don't donate a lot of adult clothes. I don't think students are going to wear that. >> So, so when you say adult, are you talking sizes or styles? >> Styles. suit that >> I think that might have came from you guys. >> And we we did get rid of a lot of stuff that had some stains on it and it's just not in good condition. So if you have clothes that are not in good condition, >> so but we have a lot of like business stuff, business wear, which is really good too. So if you need stuff for a work review or anything like that, we have a lot of that kind of stuff. >> Specifically a suit with a big >>
068That's great. Um, you mentioned pinkout shirts. >> How do you get those pinkout shirts? >> Um, you can email Miss Morris or Miss Mitchell at the high school. Um, or >> you had something you'd like to add? We had um our our student advisory board round table in September um where the students and the >> well no the leads the adults >> other school board members with the kids and um they're really excited about getting the um the presentation for OSBA And we meet again in October and I think we've already organized that with and like the kids are going to do a big presentation and also speak >> to her. >> I did my asking so >> I'll do mine. >> All right. Good, good, good. Well, anything else you like to add? >>
069Well, thank you. I appreciate that. And we'll move on to committee reports then. Anyone have any committee reports? >> Okay. Um I do, but I'm um >> not that came much quicker than you know what um let's do this. So my committee report is um for the um district leadership. Why don't you tell us about the district leadership meeting? I have that the yearly theme is be the change. Um they started a new kind of a journal thing. Why don't you just jump on in here and you have a mic? Somebody share a mic with her. Come on. You want me to help you? >> Yes, please help. >> Okay, >> there we go. So we have a digital journal. >> It's digital. >> Yes, the digital journal. And they had the opportunity to pick
070some entries that they could reflect on in the beginning. Just generating some memories for you. Yeah. And it was around the theme of be the change and just an opportunity to pick different prompts and each DT they will be able to reflect around that theme and it's a digital journal that they'll keep and then the survey tell us about the survey that's um going out and the information that will be coming back >> you want to talk about the pan survey >> sure yeah we're currently in the process of administering the followant survey for everybody so staff um receive links to give us feedback um culture of school culture. Um, families have a link that was sent through their email like multiple times. I'll send another one tomorrow. >> So, if you haven't, we only
071have six% who responded. So, we need respondents. >> How many? >> Six. >> Yeah. >> We really read the surveys and look at that data to plan for how to best support. We want your feedback. Um and then our students do a self survey and it this really looks at and ask them questions around their social emotional um well-being, their engagement in school, their growth mindset, like how how they feel supported, they feel safe at school. Um and then that data we we really rely heavily on plan prevention programming and supports for kids throughout the year. How many of the students have responded? Do you know >> the students will have 100%. >> Okay. All right. And disappointed with that 6% thing. >> Preschool through second grade. It's a teacher perception survey. So the teachers
072answer >> like they um it's how they like have seen and observed the student in terms of their but then 3 through 12. >> Um so um The other thing that I have notes on is the the notebook LM which is an amazing um resource. Um it it basically in a nutshell you can um download several different sources about the same thing and it will paraphrase it. It will give you audio. It'll give you a slideshow. It'll make flashcards. Um it gives you a paraphrase of it. Um and this is something that they can the teacher being introduced. So the teachers can do show this to the kids. So you donate you you download all of the the weekly the yearly or the quarterly um and it combines it and gives them flashcards and gives
073them questions and tells them the main stuff and I'm like where was this when I was in school? Um yeah I was truly amazed with that. I was talking about that the entire day. Even people I work at. I'm like do you know that there's such a thing? So if you don't know about it check it out. It was really really cool. It's an AI tool. It's really amazing. And you can use it to synthesize resources. You can It's free, by the way. You can put um links, website links in it, and it will quickly read articles for you. It'll create podcasts for you and synthesize all that information. You can ask it questions. >> You can talk to it. It'll talk back. Um, it's pretty cool. >> Yeah. So, that was a tool, just
074an AI tool that we showed the district leadership team. Notebook >> notebook ln >> and informed that that that our student reps aren't quite done yet. >> Just this just in. >> Sorry. Speaking of uh student feedback and um feedback, um we are also going to send out a Google form to students tomorrow to go out the newsletter that I sent out about asking them what they need from their closet so we can get direct student input and what would be helpful to them so we can now have better serve our students. >> Thank you. >> That's it. >> That was a good little panel discussion, wasn't it? I have a question about next year. Has there been a location for the closet discussed about next year to move? That's a great question. >> I
075think that section of the building is staying my understanding. So >> stay there. >> I think so. As far as >> just be like a centralized location, >> at least right now. That's a good question. >> Angie, do you have any committee updates? >> I do. Uh just a reminder that next week um our alumni committee meets on October the 9th or October I'm sorry. Yeah, October the 9th here and you've already got that set up, right? >> I will not heard a word. >> I will get a uh >> I will get with you, Adriana. Thank you. >> Yeah. That's been three months already. >> Um, and also WCF, I sit on that committee and they want to thank Jack for getting the food trucks set up for us. >> I didn't do anything
076with it. >> Oh, I thought you organized the outlets and all that. >> No, Lisa did all that. Lisa, >> great. Well, then I'll >> I think Lisa said that it was your idea. >> Yeah. No, no. >> Shaving off credit. I'll take it. >> Well, never mind. >> Okay, now you have to pay off. >> Yeah. >> So, those were my two committees that I wanted to talk about. Oh, and the WCF is also selling spirit well >> and that's going to be an ongoing process that you can order spirit well. We've got a couple things out. I think uh we had a model sitting over there for modeling the >> the And uh we're also going to continue to the rest the games sell our blue items for Dr. Townson's recommendation. So and
077uh Haley's going to check with the NHS students to see if they will sell them for us. >> Fantastic. And those those one jerseys or not jerseys but sweaters are really neat because has WC. I think it's WC >> Pirates. Pirates. >> It is a pirates. >> I literally was looking at it on the back. >> That's what it is. Yeah, it has pirates, but like the sweatshirts like cut down the middle. >> It's like a cardigan. >> I haven't seen I've seen a picture. >> They had it out at the >> I thought it was just a sample. I didn't realize. >> I guess it kind of is, but it was really nice. I mean, it's really cool. I I don't know how I would look at it, but I'm sure you guys would
078love that. So, definitely look into it. >> Are we on our website? >> So, but I get more details. >> I can't remember. >> Might be on the website at some point. >> Okay. Anyone else with reports? >> Funny enough, I don't have any either. So, we'll move to comments from the super. Thank you. >> So, oddly enough, I want to piggyback on what David White talked about without me seeing his presentation until the sparkles went up. Um, so in front of you, you have a quick overview of our district report card. I just wanted to um highlight some of the items that are on there. So, summer grows and summer glows, but um I kind of want to explain how ratings changed. And I think David alluded to it a little bit. Um last
079year overall score was 3.5. However, there was no rating for college um career workforce and the military rating. Um this year our gap closing is four, which is the most important area to me. Um last year we were three because every time we close the gap and those stars grow um we are making more than one year's growth. So that is excellent. Uh the district literacy score is a two but the ECC was one and after I was able to get into the data it related to one student. That was it. So um that's pretty fascinating. Um, however, our literacy score did go up for the district um based on our third graders passing the third grade reading guarantee, which is very nice. And then the high school, this is the one that really gets
080me, obtained three stars for the college career workforce. Um, they had the 15% increase in performance. We had 14.96 as a district. So we were 04 away from having the building score because we as a district have kids that count that don't go to school here. So they could be placed in a um foster care and alternative school. Um it it was two students and that's what made the district different. So we're looking at ways to make sure we we catch those kids that sometimes we don't know where they're at. Uh David did upon the performant performance index um RPI has gone up to 66.7 we've mentioned this before where our PI is calculated with our score which is actually higher than that and then the top 2% set the other side of it so
081um it affected our high school um report card but also the district report card um it was 109.8 this year so it's the it's been since I've been here. That's based on the top 2% of the district. However, our PI has gone up consistently. Um, I wanted to also give you a little bit of data of things that we're looking at going forward. Um, which David was talking about as well. Uh, our fall ready scores, they are higher than they have been in past years. However, um, you know, the kids come in and take this placement test right at the beginning of the year. So, you see a lot of growth by the time I do the district update where our green is way bigger than it is right now and our red and I'm
082sorry they're not in color. Um but we our overall placement and again just like the high school our district data is a little bit lower in math. We're not done testing so this is just what it is as of today. There's still several pools I have to test. And we also started using NWA um which stands for Northwest Education Association. Um I personally love NWA. It is Norm referenced. Um it gives specific skills based on a RIT band which is um a RIT score to explain it the easiest way. Um every have they can be tested in reading, language, math and science. It represents the student achievement level at any given time and moment that that test is given. Um and then it shows academic growth over time as well. So a great way to
083think about it is um your height. The taller you are, your ribband would be higher. So the higher your score, your rip band would be higher. Um also um It ranks you to your peers across the nation, which I like that as well. It is darn accurate. I've I've never seen anything um as accurate as prediction on state tests as NWA. Something else that was mentioned, and it didn't happen in the meeting, but Nate, you and I actually talked about this. Um our school compared, and David brought it up as well, our school compared to other schools. He compares the high school to 26. I pulled the specific one that you mentioned to me, but our f the first piece of paper has all of our students and shows the diversity that we have across
084the district. Um, which is to me very fascinating. And I know I rattled these numbers off the top of my head to you last time, but um, just some differences compared to the one I'm going to share. Um, we do have a large diverse population. Um, we have, uh, 23.6 African American Hispanic is 11.7 multi-racial is nine. Our white non-Hispanic is 54. Our students with disabilities is one of the higher in the area. It's 21.7 and economically disadvantaged is 97%. So those factors all play into our report card. The next page is the other district that you had mentioned to me >> and I wanted to show you how different their um enrollment is. So, their enrollment is 1965 students. Um some things that stand out to me on their report card is uh the
085lack of diversity in that specific district that I pulled. Um their special ed students with disabilities population is 11.5 and their economically disadvantaged is 6.4. >> Wow. >> So, when you look at a report card that has five stars, you really have to take those into consideration. Um, ours is very high. We have very high need kids. Um, however, we make gains in growth and we are closing the achievement gap, but we're not going to close it or have a fivestar report card when we have a diverse population. However, I wouldn't change our population for anything. I love the diversity here. It's amazing. So, those are things that come into play. this particular district looks a lot like my old district and every kid can pass the third grade guarantee in second grade or screen
086out of the K in March before kindergarten started. So, there's a lot of factors that play into it. Um, and I know I did rattle the numbers off, but I wanted to show you I was pretty darn close week or so ago. Yeah, I mean that is >> but it's telling and I think we do a lot of good things with our kids and co-eing. Um David mentioned that um but he did also mention the diversity in the districts and it does play a huge part in >> not a bad thing to >> I had a question. >> Sure. So the economic disadvantage is that the same as like because I think we mentioned it in previous years like the child poverty rate in our community. This is not the same exact number. Child poverty
087rate is a different percentage. Correct. >> So correct. So our free and reduced lunch is um to qualify for 100% free and reduced breakfast we have to have a certain percentage. Um our economically disadvantaged I believe is right around 67 to 70%. >> And it depends upon the building too and the rates. So it it really does depend upon the enrollment. Um but for us to qualify for the free and regious breakfast, we have to hit a certain poverty level. So yes, that is a little skewed. However, our poverty level is still significantly higher than the other district. >> Yeah. Well, yeah. I wish people could see these numbers. It is. >> They're on the state Yeah, you can definitely tell. So, >> and I think that's why I think our school is the greatest
088even with everything that we do have and the economic disadvantage, the child poverty rate that we face in our schools that these other districts just don't have, the incredible things that we do and the stars that we earn >> out of that really shine through our kids. So pulling some of the other data which I could have included but I know Miss Robin's going to do a presentation at the next board meeting. So um I don't want to get too far into it but schools like um Huber Heights and Mad River and schools that we we usually compare ourselves to we did meet them. So um and even then our sped population is higher. Um it could be our free and reduced just depends on the district but it's pretty interesting to look at. Um
089I love D So to me, this is great. So >> definitely. Thank you so so much. >> You're welcome. >> All right. Anyone have anything to add to that? Any questions? >> Is there anything else you like to add? >> Oh, no. Sorry. >> No, you're fine. I just want to make sure that if anyone had any questions. Okay. You guys Everyone's good. All right. We'll move right along to comments from the treasur then right. Thank you. Uh I give you uh one page handout uh just regarding property taxes. Um, we all of us have we have been and we will continue to get a lot of emails from Columbus from our state organizations regarding property taxes and the legislaturator's attempt to to give tax breaks to taxpayers and basically give tax breaks at the
090expense of school districts and other governmental entities because the state's not I mean they don't want to they don't want to pay the they don't want to pay a tax break that they want to give to to residential homeowners. So, just that ongoing conversation. Um, back around June 30th when when the legislature approved a two-year budget, the governor vetoed a lot of items which help helped out school districts. But then he did say that he was going to put a committee together to study tax reform, etc. That committee released their report yesterday, I believe, um, with like 20 different recommendations. So that report's being published. But um but if the legis in reality if the legislature does not agree with any of those recommendations then then that then that report is you know won't be
091in the end it won't be really useful. If the legislature doesn't agree with with with their recommendations. Um this one page here is just kind of a quick summary from Howard Fleeter. He's um he is like the main guy at this Ohio Education Policy Institute. I mean, he's probably the smartest guy in Ohio when it comes to school funding and and and I highlighted just the middle part um by the we're say by the numbers and um the first number the 46%. So, I mean, we know that, you know, in Ohio and across the nation, you know, home values have they are up a significant percentage since 2020. Um, but specifically here in Ohio, his second point, um, he's saying that, um, back in 1991, when you look at the the tax burden, um, res
092homeowners were paying 46% of taxes and businesses were paying 54%. But fast forward um to the current year um the there's been in general there's just been so many tax breaks given to businesses that that the residential burden has gone from 46% up to about 68%. So each and every year over the last 34 plus years, um each each and every year just the burden just keeps getting larger for for homeowners. Um which which falls right in line with the next point when you look at it nationwide. Um Ohio has the eighth national the eighth highest rank nationally in terms of property tax burden. And um a big part of that just It just lines up with the fact that um with all the breaks that have been given to businesses and I mean it
093also aligns with um just the big focus in Ohio in general is that the state, you know, our legislature wants to lower they've been lowering our income taxes for individuals and for businesses and they they have not uh really done much with the sales tax and so that just continues to put more and more burden on on homeowners across Ohio. Um, this fourth point is just saying that the value of abated property like a um a property that's that's exempt from tax and just a huge increase from 6 billion to 27 billion um in the last 20 years. And then and then the last item, number of districts at the 20 mil floor. We we are not at we are not at the 20 mil floor. Um I think there's only three districts in the
094county. Miami, New Lebanon, and Valley they're at the 20 mil floor, but um you basically you know about twothirds of districts across the state are at the 20 mil floor and um for example like in West Carolton so if if our property values go up 30% for example um most of that millage gets reduced and then our homeowners might see a five or six% increase but but if you're a 20 mil floor district if your property values go up 30% then you might see your real estate tax up 15 or 16% or so. Um so um that's just one of the that's an ongoing conversation is how to um to deal with this 20 mil floor issue but that is not a particular issue in our district. Um so the main thing is just you
095know if Tom Young were in the room um you know a couple questions ahead would be um if the state didn't if they didn't continue to decrease the income tax if they increase the sales tax then there would not be such a burden um on our homeowners. So um but the point is the legislators the legislators want to give they want to give a tax break um in 2026 to people um especially senior citizens. I mean I mean that that needs to happen in terms um I mean there's definitely merit in giving a break to senior citizens but um it's just the ongoing debate on how to how to address the property tax issue but not decimate schools and governments across the state. So the conversation is it's not going to go away. Um you
096know there's there's a ballot there's a group um it's no secret I mean there's a group that is trying to get an issue on the ballot next November statewide to totally get rid of property taxes. So if that happened um how would how would public governments uh exist? So, uh, >> okay. Can't say enough. The conversation is not going to go away. >> All right. Um, thank you. >> Very uplifting. >> Thanks. Can't wait. That's wonderful, Ryan. >> Good news, Ryan. >> Um, got me 10 to five last night. >> Did they really? >> Maybe. >> Goodness. All right. Uh, no comments from either of our associations. So, we'll move on to our central staff. Who wants to start? There's mic there. Looks like you might have to start. Well, I did have a comment,
097but now I'm afraid to. >> I'll just give you a quick update on the building project. Um, we'll start close to students street first a tennis ball area. They're core drilling out to start setting posts. So, they will be setting post probably by the end of this week for the nets and getting all that ready. And then that'll be followed up by the fencing after that. Um, baseball, the grass is growing in the outfield. They're watering the grass now. We have irrigation up and running. Um, so they're watering the grass and we have a good good growth coming in. So that's good to see. For baseball, um, had the coach out there yesterday along with the athletic director looking it over. Um, the announcers booth is, we went upstairs in it to check it out.
098It's complete. The second floor is done. That should be hopefully they'll get a door on that here in the next couple weeks and that should be completed there. Dugouts or one is the height for the roof now. The other one should be done later this week. So that's moved along great. Um the high school the fence should be coming down most of the way around the 712 school. Um, I've asked them to keep the gates up um along the driveway, back driveway to keep cars from cutting through there because there's still too much construction traffic. I don't want that to become a shortcut for folks and they get mixed in with a cement truck or a dump truck or something. So, um, so they're going to keep the gates up to kind of block that
099back driveway, but the building is totally complete now. All the windows are in except for what they're using to bring furniture through. And all the doors are in except for the two front doors where they're bringing furniture through on the first floor. So, um, building wise, it's the envelope's complete and inside the Wow, it's come along great. The gym floors are all down. Um, the wood gym floors are down. They should start striping the varsity floor next week um on that. And Trazzo should be going down as soon as that floor is completed. So, we think Trazzo should be going down by the 17th or 18th. So, we should be starting on the Trazzo back in the athletic area first and then moving up front. So, it's coming along well and the way it's looking,
100uh, furniture should be delivered in that building probably by December. Start moving in the furniture for the desks and stuff like that. So, the case works in. A lot of class works already have the case work installed. The band room, music rooms are done. So, it's come along really well. >> Wow. >> That's fantastic. Okay, Deon, you had nothing. Just be sure. >> No comments. >> Okay. I just want to be sure. >> Okay. Well, no general comments from the public. Oh, we'll move right along to board members. Angie, you want to start? >> Sure. I just wanted to thank uh Brooks for doing such a great job on the parade as she has in the past. She did a wonderful job. I know I did see Kathy Semons there helping as well. I'm not
101I'm sure there were other staff, but I don't know who. Um, and thanks to the district for setting up for the food trucks, obviously. And I wanted to congratulate Satie. She fine job that she did as a pirate pride winner. And I think that's all I have. Yep, that's all I have. >> All right, John, we'll move right along to you. >> Just two quick things. Pirate pack update. We see the numbers jump a little bit, but I wouldn't really call this a jump. Maybe maybe a a step. It went from mid 20s to mid-30s. Not much of a jump there. Really surprising to me. We never went into October this low. Even co years were kind of comparable to this is about a 90% drop in the numbers. So I uh expected to go
102up, but it is going so slowly. Um, also want to make uh known in case anyone here is aware of someone who would be interested in this, Packac board is looking for some folks who might be interested in serving with us. Uh there are a couple of us who plan to move in the next couple of years and so there will be some vacancy if you're interested in helping a food charity that has 10 years under our belt. We have at this rate we have funding for a long time more than this. We've had a really good uh fundraising year as I've mentioned a few months back with some grants that we won. And so right now it is very inexpensive to to serve 33 packs. I know it'll it'll jump up and I'm curious
103to see when that's going to happen. Lastly, Jack is your week for appreciation. Uh I just um there's a lot of things in seven and almost eight years that uh even before that that uh that I can remember with uh with you and some of them are tours of the buildings and uh whenever we wanted to see something even as a new board member I'd want to come and get a tour and see the boilers down in the uh I want to say several buildings but um you'd go down and I mean you would you cover everything even those things and just kind of educate a new board member on what this is and what that is. And of course, when I first was here, the building project wasn't a thing yet. We didn't have
104a bond levy even on on the ballot, much less approved. So, uh, but just all the way back to to those days and everything you've done for the district, which everyone knows appreciates, it's there's really hardly any words to come up with it, but I certainly appreciate all your effort. Um, all the times that I've reached out to you that you've been there to answer. You certainly have made a maintenance crew with Pirate Packs a seamless process. You always um help us when we need it and you're always there to answer emails when I send them to you. So, very grateful to you. I miss working with you and just thank you for all your effort and your feedback with me. So, thank you, John. No problem. That's all I got. >> Well, thank you.
105Um, tomorrow the girls will be placing their trophy in the trophy case at the high school. Um, we did so the last couple years so that we get to do it again. And so we'll be moving somebody out back, but they're excited because all the trophies will be moving over to the new school eventually when everything is done. Um, wanted to congratulate Uh what a special award from mom. That that's really nice. Uh and she was totally surprised. I I don't think she had an inkling what was coming. So she sounds like a great gal and just wanted to congratulate her. And thanks to Judy Brooks, uh the parade was wonderful. The weather held off. It rained practically mostly good day and then all of a sudden it just broke and it was fine and
106everything went off a bit. So, um just report all of the the fall sports. They're all coming to an end slowly but surely throughout the month of October. And then wow, winter sports will be coming up. So, if you want to play a winter sport, you need to get all your final forms done and all those good things uh so that you can play and participate at that point. So the school year is just flying by. Thank you. >> All right. >> I also wanted to say I forgot to mention Janine. I saw I was at She was all over the parade taking pictures. I was at the homecoming game uh football game. She was all over the field at the with the court everywhere. She does did an amazing job. So I think she
107deserves a special shout out for that. And congratulations to Daniela for being on the homecoming court. >> All right. >> I have very little because most of mine's going to be ditto. Um actually Angie took almost my entire um the parade was wonderful. I love the parade. Um it it did it did stop raining for the parade, but for those of us who were decorating a float, the rain did not help that process. Um so we had a little longer of a day without rain for that. Um again, she already hit on almost everything. The only thing I want to do is I want to give a special shout out for Haley, your student board or yeah, student board. Whenever you see it get sent, I just smile. So, you allow you allow me to
108smile at home when I may not want to smile, but I see that and I'm like, that's my girl right there. Great job. Good. Love it. Wonderful. Keep it up. Pass it on. >> It's enthusiasm. >> Yes. Yes. Love it. Um, and I did see you on the horse and you were rocking it and we were all talking about how beautiful you are and and so yes, it was uh it was quite the scene and I love that we're adding stuff to it. Um, I actually was in a a a festival this past weekend. They had this huge parade. I'm a parade person, by the way. So, um, some of the things they did, I even took pictures so I can go maybe we can start doing this stuff. Um, so yeah, thank you for
109all that you're doing. Um, and that's >> also taking pictures at the homecoming day. I saw her there, too. >> Good job, ladies. Good job. >> Keeps herself busy, that's for sure. Well, great. I mean, I don't really have too much. A lot of lines will be dead, too. The parade was good. >> No, don't worry. I'm Trust me, I'm going to talk. Don't you worry. >> We got plenty of time. >> Plenty of time. >> So, the parade was good. >> It was all right. I mean, >> look, right, >> I wanted more people out there. I don't know where they were. I mean, it was good. a good crowd >> at the end especially, but like during the parade there was like open sections. >> I'm like >> they were in line at
110the food truck. >> They were at the that field out there is like perfect for those food trucks. That was such a good idea. And really I mean >> too bad it wasn't Jack's. >> We were told it was yours. >> Yeah. >> You should have to take credit for that one. >> Yeah. And then of course the shirts are looking good. Mine's falling apart a little bit, but it was Ryan. Thank you for being such a good sport with the shirts and in the parade. He even went woo in the parade which was really loud too. >> I mean I wasn't going to call him out on the floor but >> a woo. Yeah, that was great. And uh um I also wanted to say of course early voting will be starting soon. Uh
111if you guys don't work the polls, you should um you know being involved in your community and working the polls is such an important aspect. I don't know >> the voting polls. >> Yes, I feel like I should. Yeah, voting. Yeah, that's very important. And uh yeah, it's a great thing and uh definitely be involved in your community work. Um yeah, that was great for She mentioned something in the video about how all the grades kind of become friends with each other and it's like even though we're a suburb of very large, you know, city, like we still have a kind of a small town feel to it. And she's right. I know even when I was in high school, like I knew my freshman people like they they were just I don't know. there
112wasn't like a separation which is really nice because everyone kind of gets along and you know you just learn a lot from everybody which is really cool and then uh I also wanted to say uh the custodian appreciation day um there has been some really incredible and there still currently is some really really incredible custodians there's that one I can't think of his name he sadly passed away >> okay everyone else knew his name that's fantastic I love you guys. He was a great custodian. >> I think he is a perfect example of why custodian appreciation day is like such an amazing day because you don't only, you know, do what custodians are thought to do like outside like change the trash bags and off the floors like they change the lives of students and
113they can alter, you know, the future of someone just by being a good person and uh they're in the perfect position to do that. So really I think I can speak for all of us that we really do thank the custodians for the amazing work that they do. Um, I was going to also go on a tirade about parent involvement and the report card again, but I will save you guys the time. >> You're welcome everyone because thank you for talking about the report card though and like creating that you know that uh comparison >> because we can compare all day long but man once you start getting into you know zombie rates and everything else. There's really no comparison. We're the best, you know. All right, I'll end with a quote and that quote
114is, "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you don't stop." And that's by Confucious. >> So move. >> Yes. >> Mr. >> Yes. >> Mr. Miller. >> Yes. >> Mr. Money. >> Yes. >> Mr. Sh. >> Yes. >> Thank you. Have a good night.