Board of Education Livestream - 11/03/25

001[music] Good evening and welcome to this Akran Public School Board meeting on November 3rd, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Mr. Bowers, roll call, please. Mr. Alexander, present. Miss Audrey, present. Miss Hall, present. Reverend Harrison, present. Dr. Jackson, present. Dr. Molner, present. Six, present. Thank you, Mr. Bowers. Next, um, those who are able, please stand as we're led in the pledge of allegiance by our scholar board member, Jordan Leon. Pledge [clears throat] allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Jordan. We do. Uh, next we will have, uh, recognitions. Um, uh, Superintendent. Yes. Thank you, President Jackson. On Saturday, September 13th, Akran Public Schools was the beneficiary of a highly successful community fundraiser held

002at the West Akran Swinson's Drive-In. During the event, Swinson's demonstrated their support by donating 20% of their event sales to the cause. Community participation was strong as customers contributed both through their purchase of delicious food, but also by bringing and donating muchneeded school supplies. The effort was further boosted by the appearance of NBA Cavs player Larry Nance Jr. He worked as a curbside server during the event and also matched went above matching the donation that we received from Swinsson's. The combined success of the fundraiser resulted in a cash donation of $7,500 and an additional $1,000 worth of school supplies for a total donation of $8,500. [applause] We want to again thank Larry Nance Jr. who was the fundraiser. uh he gave birth to the idea of having the fundraiser and he worked in partnership with

003uh Jerry Flowers, the president of the West Akan Swinssons. So the school supplies and cash donation were delivered right here to 10 North Maine on October 28th by President Jerry Flowers and his amazing West Akran Swinson's team. On behalf of Akran public schools, I'd like to thank you and I'm asking um if Mr. Christopher Pierce could just stand please because we're thanking you [applause] for your partnership. And if you could come up and present your check. Is there a check in the room? [laughter] And if you could please donate, make your uh share whatever words you have and then you would want to give that to our president. Thank you. Yeah, just to reiterate, it's it's a privilege for us and it's an honor for us um to see Larry Nance Jr. use his platform

004um for this and um and and just all the the guest and the team that um you know this was able to affect that day. Um, it's really inspiring to see and it's exciting. So, thank you so much on behalf of Swinson's. Thank you, Mr. Pier. [applause] Thank you so much. God bless you. Thank you. Did you want to say any words, Madam President? Sure. on behalf of Akran public schools, we're always grateful for um community partnerships and collaborations. And so we're especially grateful to uh Swintson's as far as Larry Nance Jr. allowing us to use his name, image and likeness. They call it NIL deals, right? In order to promote um this very worthy cause. So again, on behalf of AAN public schools, we thank you. We thank the community members that came on

005and supported as well as board members who I believe attended. Um so again, we are truly grateful because every dollar counts. Thank you. God bless you. Thank you. And that does conclude the recognitions portion of our of our agenda. Thank you, Superintendent. Next, we have our scholar member voice, Mr. Jordan Leon. Good evening, madam president, madam superintendent outlet, honorable board members and guests. Hi, my name is Jordan Leon. I am a senior attending STEM high school. I am returning for my second year on the student board and I just got accepted into National Honor Society as well. I am also part of the cyber security pathway at STEM high school and I plan to seek employment after graduation or attend Kent State University majoring in cyber criminology. I played baseball for BookTo High School starting

006on on the varsity team since my freshman year. at the same time earning first team all city honors two years in a row. I was nominated for for player of the year last year and I am a former former member of JLA 38A which is a leadership group. I will say a significant thing about my school is that it helps me and my peers develop essential skills such as leadership, communication and adaptability. I chose to become a board member because it allowed me to represent my school and give me and my peers a chance to be heard. I want to talk about the positive things happening at STEM high school. First, me and my peers were able to attend house 33 from homecoming this year, which wasn't possible in previous previous years. They still provide

007my peers and I with the techn technical and literacy skills needed for life after high school. At the same time, it gives us a hand-on experience with our selected pathways and they recently introduced the faculty run school store and beak bugs, the currency of through the school store. We still work on projects that require teamwork and collaboration. So overall they are still providing us with a foundation that helps to prepare for the modern workforce. And now I want to address some things that could benefit STEM high school. First by establishing and expanding STEM and enrichment clubs for f focused on robotics, environmental science, coding and engineering for me and my peers. These clubs will provide us with hands-on experience hand hands-on learning experiences that align with our academic curriculum and help develop teamwork, problem solving,

008and technical skills that are essential for success. I asked the board to allocate these resources and try to secure partnerships with local STEM companies and community organizations to support the growth of these clubs and to offer students the opportunity to showcase their innovative projects at community or district events. Secondly, implementing initiatives like student pose, vending machines, and a school store ran by students. It [clears throat] will allow the students to share what we want and improve our daily school experience. Before moving to the building we're currently stationed in, we had vending machines in a studentr run store, which gave us convenient snacks and drinks that were no longer available to us once we moved. I asked the board to support the reinstatement of vending machines and student manage STEM high school while also requesting the

009implementation of a digital polling system that allows students to provide input on school policies and activities. And lastly, the expansion of scholarship programs focused on innovation and specialized career programs. My peers and I look forward to pursuing degrees in STEM field or careers that are supported by the Akran local economy. However, many of us face financial challenges that could limit our opportunities. Having more scholarships available like the innovative innovation generation scholarship can be bene beneficial to students by providing financial support. The board should allocate more fundings to towards scholarships, promote awareness of these opportunities and work with local businesses and community partners to increase number of scholarships to ensure that we will have the resources needed to be successful in higher education. I want to thank the board and superintendent outly for your time and

010consideration on the matters I discussed today and I look forward to working together to resolve these concerns. Thank Thank you, Jordan. [applause] Yes, that was an excellent report. And you know how we have the board report like the minutes for board meetings and how they can reflect out. It would be good for some of these things with the student board members if we had a place for because they make some serious recommendations. We hear them read them out and just the follow through because sometimes when you see things in writing, you can that can serve as a checklist. So, that's something that I would recommend that we look to doing is adding these student board members report somehow to agendas so that they're in the record um for requested. Excellent job, Jordan. Thank you. Uh

011next we have um Yes. Yes. Uh member Hall. Thank you. Thank you, Madam President. Um you were reading so fast. So could you just highlight quickly um or briefly on exactly what it is that you guys are looking not you guys that the students are looking for at um Akan early I'm sorry at STEM at STEM what are you had named a few different things could you just repeat that for me please um so basically we're looking for uh vending machines and a school store ran by students which we had previously uh we had it in central Howard before we got moved. And um I'm also requesting student polls, so like a digital polling system to uh for students to provide input on the school policies and activities. And [clears throat] um I also asked

012for I believe uh STEM enrichment clubs for uh it was sorry about that. Yeah, robotics and coding. Thank you. And lastly was a scholarship program uh expansion of scholarship programs focused on innovation and the specialized career programs. Sorry about reading so fast. Oh, that's okay. I was like, do I stop? No, I'm just [laughter] so thank you for that. Um, okay. Thank you. Are there any other board member questions for our student board member? All right. Um, next we will entertain the request to address the board. We do have two requests. Participants will not be permitted to speak on matters related to vendors, business matters, formal complaints, grievances, specific student or student records, personnel matters, and potential or pending legal matters. Participants must speak on matters related to the business of the board. Please keep

013your comments to three minutes or less. The board will not respond, but will assign through the superintendent the appropriate person for followup. Also, remember to please state your name and group affiliation. The first person we have to address the board is Mr. Robert Moore. Thank you. You're welcome, sir. Good evening. I am Bob Moore, son of Kenneth Moore. I flew up from Naples, Florida to speak to you for three important minutes of our family's history. The Kenneth W. Moore Principles Award brass plaque was proudly mounted in the former Central and STEM high school for decades. It is now in the corner of this room thanks to the help of this board. So, thank you for having it present. It's worth a lot. I don't have a thousand words to say. You could better to see

014it. My family requests respectfully that this his plaque be installed in this building, preferably in the memorabilia room. It can serve as an inspiration to Akran public school students and faculty. I and my family will pay the cost of installing the plaque as well as the cost of installing the Central Hall of Fame. Kenneth Moore helped thousands of Akran teenagers become educated, productive adults as principal of West Junior High School, Central, Garfield, and Elllet high schools. From the mid 1990s through 2024, outstanding students received the award and a partial college scholarship funded primarily by his wife, Marian Moore, and others. The recipients names also in brass are adorn the plaque and can be there for their future spouses and children to admire. There were significant stresses in public education in the USA and in Akran

015during the 1960s and the 1970s. While principal at Elllet, my always fit father died of his first and only heart attack in 1974 at age 56. My dad was postumously inducted into the Central Hall of Fame. His boss, Superintendent Conrad, was a fellow inductee a few years later. After his ceremony, I said, "Dr. Aut, my dad loved being principal of Central High School. Why did you transfer him to Garfield and then Ella? As a former business executive, I could not argue with his response. Dr. Aut said, and I quote, "We needed our best man where we needed him the most." Thank you for listening and considering my family's request to mount his plaque in this building. I'm leaving 20 copies of my request, each with four pages of supporting data. Thank you. Thank you so

016much, Mr. more. Next, we have Betty Zagger uh to address the board. Please come, Miss Zagger. I still have You're wonderful to do that. I I still have those right here. The pictures are He's going to While I'm hobbling up there, spine surgery will do that to you. Um, while I'm hobbling up, he's going to give you pictures of the Central Power Hall of Fame. I was hoping we could just put the Hall of Fame up, but that's a little outlandish. And so, I'm just pleased to see my uncle Kenny's plaque uh there. That's just great. And uh oh, the reason we talk so fast is that we only have three minutes and Bob finished before. I I've timed this thing 12 times. I hope I can finish on time, too. Oh, that's I hope

017my time didn't start already. Could we go back? I had to I had to hobble up. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I think that's appropriate because it started before she got to the mic. So, yes, indeed, ma'am. Thank you. Absolutely. Thank you so much. I appreciate that so much. Okay. Oh, there it is. Thank you. Any project, whether big or small, needs two important elements: timing and luck. Not much you can do about luck except hope it's good. Timing involves being at the right place in the right time. Luck is always subject to interpretation. There's a timing reason why my proposed project is the right time. With Akran's bsentennial celebration this year, nostalgia is in Akran's air just like rubber was from 1870s until the 1980s. The Beacon Journal has written a lot about saving something. I

018am Betty Zagger. I taught at the Akran public I taught in the Akran public system uh school system 44 years with 27 of those at Central High School. During that time, the idea for a Central Hall of Fame was born. Our Hall of Fame drew its inductees from Central Howard and Central. The first Hall of Fame inductee was NBA basketball great Nate Thurman, who started his career at Central High. He flew from California for his Central induction. Ray Bradbury came to Central in April 2000. The University of Akran's drama department treated him to a contemporary version of Fahrenheit 451. The next day, he was inducted into our Hall of Fame as an honorary eagle. Later that evening, he was featured speaker for the John S. Knight lecture series and his eagle pin was on his

019lapel. Part of Yakan's bsentennial is taking a closer look at the stories that shaped our city. 123 South Forge is hallowed ground when Akran High School was built there in 1886. It was the tallest building in Akran with a clock tower and a bell that weighed 2,000 pounds. Eventually, it was removed, but it stayed part of local history. The Hall of Fame at my uncle Kenneth Moore's principal's award plaque is safely in storage thanks to executive director Folk. I propose both be installed in a room on the first floor in this administration building called Akran Public Schools history. Due to space limitations, there would be a framed listing of all the decommissioned elementary, middle, and high schools. A special board of ed series would feature two speakers at each meeting, each detailing the history of

020their school with nostalgic stories until all the decommissioned schools were covered. Since board meetings are broadcast live on YouTube, a CD would be created eventually of those speeches and used perhaps as a fundraiser for future additions to the room. It could generate it could generate excitement and good feelings within the Akran community. I see it as a great public relations to tool. Akran voters overall have been very generous in voting for levies. This would honor that loyalty. Finally, a quote from Bradberry's Fahrenheit 451. It doesn't matter what you do so long as you change something from the way it was before you touched it into something that's like you after you take your hands away. I'm in the last chapter of my life. And it is my fervent hope that my change is the Central

021Hall of Fame moving from a warehouse to a dedicated APS history room on floor one within this building with understandable haste. Thank you so much. Oh dear. I'm sorry. Trying to hurry to get out of your way. Thanks, Bob. Thank you so much for your heartfelt sentiments and requests. Uh we thank you both. That does conclude um request to address the board. Next, are there any board member reflections? Board member community reflections. Member Altry. Yes. Uh thank you, Madame President. Uh since we last met, I had the opportunity to attend the ribbon cutting of the Garfield Geodome Greenhouse, affectionately called the rooted ram. Um and it was surely a testament to collaboration uh between the pathways at Garfield, Elliot, and BTO, the construction, masonry, energy, environmental, and culinary pathways. The students and the teachers were

022all involved in that. And so last May, they came together in the heat and directed this in four days. um except that the masonry uh students it took them a little bit longer because I think they had to move I think they said 50,000 tons of materials to lay the floor. Um but it was a really uh beautiful event. Um there were all kinds of uh there was a pond inside of it solar panels. It's also electric. All kind of vegetables and herbs that they use for the culinary programs. And so I'm told in the near future um they're going to be selling seasonal plants. They had mums that evening that were very beautiful. Um, but I'm told this was a really uh prolific collaboration. Um, not only between those pathways, but between our office

023of school improvement, electrical and carpentry department, building and grounds, uh, principal rhdocker, Mr. Kundiff, Mr. Keith Liky, and Nate Ruan from CTE who wrote the expanded opportunities grant. And so I think it's something to certainly be proud of. I don't think there's anything like it in the area and I'm hoping that'll be very attractive to students uh from other areas to come into the district. Um also since we last met um I just want to acknowledge that the following uh PTAs were recognized by Ohio PTA for reaching membership goals. Akran Early College, Miller South, STEM Middle School, STEM High School, Shoemarker Vors and Windermir PTAs. Congratulations. join your local PTA. [snorts] Also, congratulations to Coach Hayes and the East Dragons football team for their first round playoff win against Benedictine 19-7. They will be advancing

024to the second round playing Hawin this Friday at 7 at Walden Stadium in Gates Mill, Ohio. Also had the opportunity to attend the Akran Press Club uh state of the university address from President Nemer. Um some good items came from that. Uh reported uh 9.7% enrollment increase. Uh they reported out on their new projects uh re renovating the PSKI building and a new polymer industry club building. Um, and what was interesting to me was information about Kaisenat's 4-day streamer university that brought over a million dollars to the University of Akran and increased media exposure for them with a mention in Time magazine. And so I know that's relevant to our students um as they seek out careers in technology and streaming for those who don't think that it's something you can make money off of.

025And that concludes my report. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Member Altry, Member Hall. Thank you, Madam President. Um, last week I visited um the students and staff at David David Hill CLC with Principal Llewellyn. I was greeted by two amazing young ladies. They were in the fourth grade. One named Belle Marsh and the other young lady Aubriel Polling. Um along with um Bobby Smith, who's a family liaison joined the tour. These young ladies knew every single teacher, every single floor, every single class and I was very very impressed. Um, they walked around with confidence. They love their school. Um, they were true ambassadors and I was very very proud of them. Um, I wanted to give a shout out to Mrs. Madden's class who had who has had perfect attendance for two weeks in

026a row. And also thank um our churches. You know, I encourage our churches if you're not involved in a school, I encourage you to do so. Wesley Temple received the David Hill Community Award. Um, and I know I've attended a few different schools when I had the Northcluster. Um, there's, you know, some churches are involved, some are not. Again, I do encourage our local churches to get involved with our schools. They they need your help either to read to them, help with the pantries, you know, we know what's going on right now with the SNAP benefits. you know, if you have food pantries, please get out to our schools and help our children. Um, we did talk about certain things such as chronic abs absenteeism um in the schools, knowing that learning that um David

027at David Hill, we have our students at Wilbath and also our students at Joy Park. Um, and although it's only 1.6 miles away, that's still a quite a walk for our students. So, a lot of students are either missing school or um late for school. So, I would just encourage us to see if we can do something, you know, to maybe help out with this. We know it's an issue. I know we're doing certain things with Lyft, but maybe if we can look into this a little bit more on how we can get our students to school since we talk about that a lot. Um, also I wanted to um say that I did go to the East Showcase. Um, did a really really great job. I did get a East hoodie. I will represent

028and wear it even though I'm a griff, but that's okay. Hey, I support all schools. Um, I did take most of my time and met with the um, East alumni. Um, there were a few uh, people outside showing off their yearbooks and things like that. And to learn that they gave $39,000 in scholarships to the students at East, that's huge. Um, also, you know, we deal with this still today and I know that we plan to do better, but I spoke with Mr. Larson who was a graduate of East went to college to become an educator and guess what APS did not hire him so he went to green you know and I know we you know we still deal with those challenges till this day and I just you know my time being on

029the board I hope and I pray that we can make a difference and start hiring more people that are born and raised in Akran go off to be educators and stay here and give back in our district. Thank you member Hall. Member Harrison. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, want to thank you, Mr. Moore, for coming down and sharing the history [clears throat] with us and um, not only offering um, having a request, but offering a solution. Um, and I am glad to hear um, that you were disappointed when your father was moved from Garfield to Elliot. I mean, not everyone can stay at Garfield, unfortunately, but I mean, just a wonderful school. um want to um share with our parents, our community and our parents. Um I was um speaking with a grandmother on early

030Sunday morning, 2:00 in the morning on Sunday morning. Um and this grandmother was concerned because her child had got injured at a party. Um, and the prevailing thought was that because her grandchild was a good child, did not get in any trouble, um, was getting good grades. Um, and this should not have happened and it should not have happened. Um, but there are some things that we as parents, even as difficult as it is, that we have to we have to do. Um, our children deserve our protection and and I would I would plead with parents, have your children turn their locations on on their phones. Have them turn their location on. And I know we want to give teenagers leeway. We want [clears throat] to allow them to be adults, but they're not adults.

031They're not adults and we have to protect them from themselves sometime. And your children and your grandchildren can be doing everything right. And it doesn't matter that they are doing everything right. There is someone else that won't do the right thing. So I would appeal to the parents. Make sure you know where your children are. Make sure you look at curfew. And sometimes as painful as it is, we have to tell our teenagers no. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you very much, member Harrison. Okay. Are there any other board member reflections? All right. Thank you all for those um very insightful reflections and that moving reflection. Member Harrison with some sound advice. Um, next what is the president's report? Over the past several weeks, I've had the privilege of participating in several wonderful community events

032that truly capture the spirit and unity of our Akran neighborhoods. First, I attended the bookto pancake breakfast. Don't laugh at how I say that. I struggle with break fast. I'm going to break it down. Uh my brothers make fun of me for saying that. So I used to say early morning meal. This event was a heartfelt celebration of community connection and collaboration. It was inspiring to see families, students, and educators come together in fellowship and support of our schools. I talked to member Altry, who many of you know. She speaks often about her time um and her involvement with the PTA with over 15,000 hours. and she spent a lot of that time at Bookdale and she shared how she raised so many funds through events such as the the pancake early morning meal and

033um activities such as that. And so I think it is very um poignant for us to understand how these type of collaborations and parent teacher association and organizations linking with the uh schools are so important when we look at raising funds for as Jordan shared with us the need for afterchool clubs that will help to heighten them in an academic sense that's still fun and properly prepare them for careers. Also, what I think is very important to understand is that you do not have to be a parent in order to be a part of the PTA. You can be a grandparent, an auntie, a community member or a alumni to participate. So, please look into your local schools maybe that you attended or that is within your neighborhood and see maybe how you can support

034by joining the PTA and give a lot of your innovative and creative ideas for fundraising to help with specific programming for that specific school. Next, I did go to the community trunk or treat which was very well attended. The Kenmore community is doing some great things as a unit. It was so um invigorating and exciting to walk down Kmart Boulevard, which is something that I've never done. That is not a community that I have ever frequented. And so to go to this trunk or treat and to see all different types of people, a very diverse group of people with the creativity of the costumes. I'm a ' 80s baby, so I remember leaving from rank and putting on a onesie and um having a a pacifier, and I was a baby. Real basic. My onesie

035was my regular pajamas. And I remember walking at that time you could go home for lunch and whatnot. I remember making my own costumes just so I can participate and they would take us, you know, at rank and they would take us around the building and we would do a local type of trickor treat situation. However, um this Kenmore trunk or treat had 3D costumes. I mean, people were um dinosaurs and they were like moving. I I you know, it's the next level, but it was really great to see that. Um, what really stood out to, and I would like to extend a special acknowledgement to Let's Party Rental Services, um, which was one of the featured vendors who donated their time and resources to this trunker tree. This is a family-owned business led by

036the Buford Brothers. It's based here in Akran. They have inflatables. They have um, uh, all types of different games and photo booths. And they probably attended Akran public schools and graduated Bookto High School. uh their photo booth, their interactive photo booth added a special touch which allowed families to capture these memories. And so I we must support our own. We talk about the grow our own programs as far as education. We should be supporting Akran owned and grown companies too to support the local Akran community because also the local Akran community funds and helps to support our local schools. So it's very important that we highlight those organizations and I wanted to make sure I did that. Additionally, the next company that I want to highlight that's local, that's also um owned by one of

037our Akran public school graduates who graduated from Kenmore High School. His name is Anthony Griggs and he actually is the owner of the Outback Steakhouse in Chapel Hill. And so I just really wanted to highlight that we do have our students that are doing some amazing things. And even though they may have not came through as a entrepreneur pathway, which is our fourth E here, it is great to see that they expand in those areas. And that's why I always promote entrepreneurship and I think it's important to expand that fourth E. Um, and I would love to see what we're going to do here with that. Next, as we have transitioned out of October with which which was breast cancer month, which was domestic violence awareness month, which was also principal recognition month. Um, and

038Akran, you did a great job, our communications department, superintendent, with highlighting all those principles and seeing them roll on social media. I thought that was excellent. And it's also although things are um categorized within the month like when we talk about domestic violence, it is important that we are aware 365 because there has been an uptick in domestic violence among young people within our high schools and our middle schools. And so we want to make sure that we keep our eyes open which takes me to the importance of again community partnerships with uh people that can deal with mental health and various things. That's why issue one is a very important issue and I believe that everyone in good conscious within Summit County will support something like issue one that will help us provide the

039services for our young people and community um members around things like mental health and other things that they may be struggling with um because domestic violence is real and it can result in loss of life as I've had a sister whose life was taken as a result of domestic violence. Um, additionally, breast cancer. So, breast cancer awareness month, like I said, it was last month. I was especially moved to reflect on the life and legacy of Yantami Yanni Jones. And actually, Dr. Chapman, your name came up in this conversation because I believe you played a significant role in inspiring in inspiring both her and her good friend Aisha in basketball. And so it was great to even hear um the wonderful things that they had to say about Yantami um who is a proud alumni

040of Kenmore High School, a longtime Akran public school coach and I believe educator. I'm looking at you, Miss Dr. Chapman, so you can clear clean me up if I need to be. Um her courage and dedication and faith carried her through years of service to our youth even as she bravely faced her own battle with breast cancer. I was told that even while sick, she still went hard in the paint. She still had intestinal for fortitude and grit. And that's why, Mr. Moore, I am ex extra excited that you were here today to highlight your father and his accomplishments because we have people who too have um poured their blood, sweat, and tears and been a part of Akran public schools as students and came back and served such as um Yantami. And I wanted

041to highlight her. I talked to her good friend Aisha Van who was her best friend and she like you don't know how you don't know she was a living legend. I said man I you know I I don't know. She said she graduated in I think it was 89 or so. I said oh I was a I was in elementary. I you know I didn't know about that but I bring this up because legacy matters and we cannot cease to tell the story of great people who do great things who come out of our Zion because that's what make people um want to lean back in. And as Miss Betty said, this is what makes individuals have buy in when they hear their stories, when their legacy continues per building. When I was growing up,

042if you were on the west side, you wanted to go to Bookto. You wanted to be a Griffin because half your family went to Bookto. And that's just what it was, right? It was legacy and it was strong. You didn't hear all this. It was just given that they went I know we Rams, bro. I got, you know, you know, I said my family, you know, they move me over to that good, you know, to that east side corner. So I'm around through and through. However, that legacy matters because legacy is how people we extend and we grow. We have a commitment to want to um preserve legacy, preserve tradition. And when we walk through the hallways of our school where there's legacy, we deal with it with pride and not with disdain and we

043don't discard it. If there's a saying, it's like not wiping your feet on a rug before you enter someone's home. when you have legacy, if BTO is your legacy, if Garfield is your legacy, then put some respect on our name. So, you can't come into our school and do anything and Bruce says North. So, anyway, I think that's important. So, I definitely wanted to highlight um Miss Yan to me. And also as we are talking about erecting plaques and things of that nature to maybe think of some considerations as we're about to erect a new school on the ground of Kimmore High School if there's some way that her legacy can be etched in eternity with the erection of that school. Now I don't have the authority singly to do anything like that but I

044just figured I was speaking in the atmosphere and again Mr. Moore I salute you because you helped me trigger to speak that because I think that's very important. [snorts] Um uh lastly I would like to talk about some upcoming scholarships. Um in the report out about Akran P um the University of Akran and their increase in enrollment uh 9.7 um increase in enrollment and I know we talked about Kaisak. Thank you uh member Altry and him doing that. I also want to highlight that as I speak I always talk about scholarships and Jordan I'm glad that you mentioned it because I have been working in scholarship committees forever like for a majority of my life for literally over 20 years and I think it's very important and vital that we continue to connect our youth

045with scholarships well before this seat this is what I've been doing and I still do and so with that increase I want to say I think that uh the judge judge hero okay stuff scholarship fun may have something to do with that because the University of Akran has blessed many of our Akran public school students with full ride scholarships to the University of Akran through the Hero K Stubs um scholarship award banquet uh that will be coming up this March or April, excuse me. However, applications will be opening for the Judge Hero Stubs scholarship soon and so please um pay attention. I'll make those announcements and I always post scholarship opportunities and Jordan this is relevant for you as well. I always post them on my Carla Jackson for school board page even after you

046graduate from high school. There are some like Delta Sigma Theta Chasing Graduation is a continuing scholarship that you can reach out for that's not just for you as a high school senior. So I want to say that on the mic so people can play this back. Next is the Lorraine the Daryl STEM goes red scholarship award. Um application applications are currently being accepted. The deadline is December 15th. This is for a $5,000 scholarship supporting young women grades 9 through 12 in Northeast Ohio pursuing studies in STEM fields. As Jordan just told us, we need more clubs and things like that that promote the STEMS. So, this is for young ladies. It closes on December 15, 2025. It is for $5,000. It is open to students in our area. Summit County is one of the counties

047it's available for. You can apply at www. Did I say too many W's? www.heart.org/ uh clemgo red. As I said, this has been a wonderful month. I'm I'm going to uh end my time here by thanking everyone and the support, but I read out things that I think is beneficial to the body, the community, and resources that we can use. So, again, I thank you for um your time, and that does conclude the president's report. Next, we will have a superintendence um report and updates. Thank you, President Jackson. The scholar advisory committee met with the superintendent uh on just recently on Monday, October 27th, I believe was the date. I want to thank um Eric Fletcher and Ivonne Culver for bringing the our scholars out. As I was listening to member Hall ask about capturing

048thoughts and President Jackson, that is something that this group will do. Um when I met with them, each school uh that was represented brought ideas from their school with them on how to improve their school. And so we will be working on that. I will keep a database and report back to the students who I'm accountable to. And in the meanwhile, I could also report back to the board on the progress that we're making. Also, I would like to um announce [clears throat] the winners of our superintendence book club. I'm so excited that we have three buildings that really did a great job for the month of October. This month the theme was one district one theme at a time and the time this time was start strong and fall into kindness. The suggested book

049co titles focused on friendship and the power of small acts of kindness to build strong friendships and the power of small acts of kindness connected to the community. Our students were encouraged to read from a suggested list or to choose their own books. I am thrilled to share that Betty Jane CLC is the elementary winner with an impressive 331 books read. At the middle school level, Miller South with 72 books read. And at the high school level, the winner was Elllet CLC with 12 books read. It's important that we do acknowledge that our middle and high school books are a little more challenging as they are reading novels and takes a little more time to get through within a month. So, we congratulate our students who participated. So, we have some photos that we would

050like to show of the committee going out to the school to congratulate uh the winners. Betty Jane. Oh, wait a minute. Who is that in that photo? No, this is Ell. Thank you. That's And we're going to move on. That's our high school winner. And we're going to move on to our next Do we have a Miller South? Oh, we're going to go to Betty J. Well, Miller South and that is Principal Anderson. And so each school will receive a trophy and the trophy will travel around the district at the three different levels. and our final school. We can go back to Betty Jane. So again, congratulations to our students. This is our year of literacy. We're really focusing on our K to3 literacy initiatives and this is one of the crosscutting K12 initiatives that

051we're engaged in. Our 2025 community showcases are in place. Remember, these showcases are open to all students, former students, neighbors, friends, community members, and business partners. You will have the opportunity to tour our schools, meet our amazing staff and students, and learn all about what APS has to offer. There is a complete listing of dates and times located on our website at akranchools.org. Our next community showcase will take place on November 5th, 4 to 6 o'clock at North High School. Also want to let you know that we are supporting our APS staff. They have many, many talents in APS. And so the staff is getting together to host their own jingle mingle market. and that will take place on November 22nd from 10 to 2 right here at 10 North Main. All are welcome to

052attend. Also, for our families that are watching, please remember that school is closed tomorrow due to voting and so we encourage everyone to get out and vote and also take your scholar with you so that they can see democracy in action. I would also like to share a message to our families regarding SNAP. I would like to provide a brief update. This is an issue that is affecting many of our families across our community. As you know, the recent federal government shutdown created funding uncertainty for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. Some Ohio families are experiencing delays or adjustments to their November benefits. [snorts] This situation adds real stress for our famil family's households that rely on food assistance. Local and state leaders have come together and they are monitoring the situation

053closely and working to keep families and local agencies informed to help families. Right now, we've shared a message with our parents and caregivers providing them with reliable food resources, including 211 Summit County, the Akran Canton Regional Food Bank, [snorts] and several local pantry partners. We've also included details about the new Metro RTA free fair program for SNAP res recipients where they can ride the metro for free. These resources will help make things a little easier for our families as they experience what is recently happening in the community. In addition to community food resources, we continue to provide daily meals for our students through our school nutrition program. Every APS school offers breakfast and lunch at no cost to students and several after-school programs also include snacks. So these efforts remain an important part of how

054we support our students well-being every day. Our goal is to make sure no family goes without clear information or support during this time. We're grateful for our many, many community partners who are working to make sure our families have access to food and assistance during this time. [snorts] I would like to also say thank you to our board members and senior staff who were able to attend the NAACP Freedom Fund dinner that took place on Sunday. At the event, APS was recognized as a gold sponsor and President Jackson um went up to represent the district as we received this certificate. Reverend Mark A. Thompson was the keynote with a message of the fierce urgency of now. It is a call to action for all of us. Finally, I would like to extend our deepest condolences

055to Project Grad executive director Jackie Silas Butler. Uh, as you know, Project Grad is one of our partners. Just recently, they raised over $71,000 for us for youth for scholarships and programming for our students. Recently, Jackie lost her husband, Larry Butler. And I just want to make sure you were aware that the calling hours are are this week. Somerville Funeral Home on Friday, November 7th from 4 to 8 and Saturday, November 8th at Arlington Church of God from 11 to 12 are the calling hours and the service will begin at noon. Um, President Jackson, this does conclude my report. Thank you. Um, Madame President, at this time I want to take a a moment of personal privilege to acknowledge [clears throat] again our student board member Jordan Leon who is again a 12th grader at

056STEM as this will be his last time presenting to us as a student board member as he seeks to lock in as the kids say um on his studies to prepare to graduate strong um onto his next chapter in life. So Jordan, I want to say on behalf of the board, we are grateful for you. Mom, his mother's there. Would you please stand? We want to honor you, too. [applause] An an exceptional young man. He has been very professional, poised, and polished. I know that he has a bright hope and a future. And I'm wishing all good things for you. Know this is your board and this is your district. And we are here to support you. And it does not end when you graduate. And like I said, Miss Jay is full of resources.

057So look on that Facebook page if you've been if you need money along the way or some other connections. All right, son. So thank you. Let's give him a a hand, please. He's been exceptional, extraordinary young man. [applause] I think Jordan is an example that there is a remnant. You read a lot of stuff in the paper and you see a lot of things like my colleague Harrison said, you know, parents, you know, re rain them in like put some guard rails in place, but what this young man shows us is that they exist. Excellence does look different. It exists. So again, thank you so much, Jordan. And we are so proud of you. All right. All right, baby. You can leave now. I had to give you a shout out. [laughter] Yes. Excellent. Okay.

058Uh and next we'll move on to the treasurer's report. I have no report tonight, President Jackson. Okay. Thank you. No updates. Okay. A report. Um, all right. So, we'll move to the approval of the previous minute meeting minutes. Is there a motion to approve the regular board meeting minutes for October 20th, 2025? So, move. It's been moved by Vice President Alexander. Is there a second? Second. It's been seconded by member Hall. Is there any discussion? Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Bowers, roll call, please. Dr. Molar. Yes. [snorts] Mr. Alexander. Yes. Miss Audrey. Yes. Miss Hall. Abstain. Reverend Harrison. Yes. Dr. Jackson. Yes. Motion carries five zero with one abstension. Thank you. Next is our personnel recommendation. Superintendent Outley. Thank you, President Jackson. Tonight during the personnel recommendation section of the board meeting, I will be

059asking you to approve Nate Renan for the vacant director of data and accountability position. Nate has been employed with APS since 2000 and has over 25 years of experience in both career technical education and technology. Nate has dedicated his professional career to supporting the students and staff of Akran public schools. Nate began his career at APS as a computer science analysis and I'm sorry, analyst in the technology service department. In 2006, Nate moved into the classroom as a certified teacher teaching information technology at Garfield High School. In 2010, Nate joined the career tech department as a systems an analyst and in 2019 he became a college and careermies coordinator. Nate is looking forward to you accepting this recommendation so that he may begin his work and use his technical expertise and passion to further the

060department. Does the board have any questions about the personnel items for section 10, professional staff and administrators. Section 11, miscellaneous. Section 12, supplemental contracts. Section 13, substitute teachers. Section 14, tutors. Section 15, support staff. Section 16, pair professionals. Section 17, child nutrition. Section 18, maintenance, operations, transportation. Section 19, security. Section 20, students. If there are no questions, I wish to recommend the approval of the personnel recommendations presented in categories 10 through 20. Is there a motion to approve the personnel recommendations presented in categories 10 through 20? So moved. It's been moved by member Hall. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by member Harrison. Any discussion? Seeing and hearing none, Mr. hours. Mr. Alexander, yes. Miss Audrey, abstain on 12.1. Yes. On the rest, [snorts] Miss Hall, yes. Reverend Harrison, yes. Dr. Jackson, yes.

061Dr. Molinar, yes. Motion carries 6 with one abstension on everything but 12.1 which is five Z I'm sorry it's 6 on the balance 121 on 12.1 is 50 with one abstension. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Bowers. Next is the division recommendations, resolutions, and motions. Superintendent Outley, does the board have any questions about the division recommendations, resolutions, and motions for section 22? [clears throat] Member Harrison, please. Thank you, Madam Chair. I have a question um [clears throat] simply on procedure um as we would um rank the owner's representative um from the North High School build and it reads that we would enter into a contract or try to enter enter into a contract with the number one rank then number two then number three until a contract is reached. um what would prevent us from entering

062into a contract with number one or number two? I I I just I'm trying to get an idea of how we would move down what barriers would uh I don't know if I'm saying this the right way. Um if if we're not going to use number one, what are what would be some of the reasons if we've already submitted RFP and all of those things, right? Miss Faulk, would you like Yeah, Miss F. Thank you. Good evening, President Jackson, Superintendent Utley, and members of the board. The ranking is first of all something that is required by Ohio Revised Code for public uh bidding. It is rare that you would not able to negotiate with the number one candidate. But there are times when as you negotiate, you may not like the price. You may not

063like the statutes that they would like to put as part of the negotiated contract. It is rare that this would happen, but that does give you an opportunity to do this in a timely manner. You do not want these kind of contract negotiations by legal counsel to extend beyond a certain amount of time. If you cannot come to something within a reasonable time, it allows the boards through your actions allows the team and its legal counsel to automatically go to number two. I have not personally seen this happen before, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't give us an open win to go ahead and allow us to negotiate an actual contract that meets our needs to do this project. Thank you. Follow up. Yeah, follow, please. Um, Madam Chair and, uh, Madam Superintendent, I

064I do understand that process now. Um and and I'm not suggesting that we do anything different in this particular case. However, that's a large ambiguous gray area that what we would not know about. Say if we have the top three and it's important now because we're dealing with over hund00 million on this particular project maybe. Um, so it's important to make sure that we address processes and the systems before we get to a roadblock. And so to have a gray area that we would approve three that that we can move within three, um, I I would just personally like to see a better system. um just that gray area seems to be a lot when you're talking about this dollar amount of a project. Uh so I I I am voting for it today. Um

065I don't see any reason not to vote for it today, but just in [clears throat] the future, I think that's something that we can take a look at. Yes. Uh thank you. Thank you, uh member Harrison. Uh Miss Folk, I don't Are you going to need Miss Folk as well because I see member Hall, you've been recognized. Thank you, Madam President. So I'm looking at 223 and also 224 and I know like we as the board have asked before um you know look into companies that are akan companies like Beaver is Canton and Westfield is Gizenberg Ohio um and I know there was RFP procedure but did we get many actually your number one is actually coowned or a representative of Ruland who is an Akran company. It's just the owner this particular way it

066came in on the RFP. So Ruland is in the background on number one. So Ruland is what? An aan company. No, I [clears throat] know what they are. What I'm saying is Beaver is the actual company and Ruland will be a sub company. Two two different things. You asked me about two. Beaver is construction uh CMR for the bookal press box. Beaver, we only received uh recommend actual vendors that represented the O local area. We didn't get anybody from Akran on that particular RFP. So, one of the vetting of the process by the team was not only to look at the offering of the actual vendor, but to also see who was also local. that was part of the uh team's scoring part partner and Canton was one of the closest that came. Okay. And

067then you asked about the next 224 which is the ranking actually Rulan is in the background for candidate number one and G Stevens is an Akran company and the third one is from up towards Cleveland in Independence. So they are northeast Ohio. We were very fortunate out of the responses we got, we got eight and one was not a correct response and we were able to narrow it down to the three that we are ranking and we're very fortunate that two of them are from the Akran area. Okay. Um Okay. So, we just narrowed I'm sorry, Madam President. We just narrowed them down to the top three. So, we have not selected because it looks like right here we're going into an agreement with Westfield Consulting Group. Well, that's the number one ranked for the

068owner's representative for the North project and the scoring sheets were attached, right? I saw that. I'm just We did have I think another Akran company too that may have applied. Yes, that is possible. And they did not score in the top three. Okay. Okay. Just I'm sorry. Yes, you can go with your final thought. Final thought. Thank you. So, I know that um when Dr. Robinson was here, there was a committee of people that looked at um these um these contracts. And where I'm looking at right here, it says in the where asked it says the board authorized the committee consisting of the superintendent um the executive director would be you facilities service manager which would be you too right now, right? Or it was not it was Miss Atkins. Miss Atkins. Yes. Okay. And

069then our purchasing agent, Mr. Leonard. Okay. So just the three of Well, the four of you all looked at this. There's no longer a committee of I think it was like maybe eight or so people that was on a committee. This is the people that were available at this time. Okay. For all of them for this particular round on this particular item. Yes. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Uh thank you. Are there any other questions? Okay. Uh I just I'm going to just for a point of clarity, I have a question because I remember it being a committee. I remember Dr. Chapman uh was a representative on that committee to make sure that as we were and if I'm mixing this up because you know there's a lot of committees a lot of things

070that took place with building and contracts because I've you know just like you remember how I've asked this question about Akran for Akran is what I think if we can bring dollars to Akran if we can support aan bu industry businesses that I believe that's what we should do [snorts] and so my question is that is all who was available at the time. Did an email go out? And Dr. Chapman, I don't want to misspeak and I know I'm I don't believe in trying to catch people off guard, but I know you're a pretty sharp lady. So, I remember you sitting on a committee and talking about um fairness practices. I'm going to use my wording correctly. Um as far as with companies that we're selecting from and that we're looking at to do various

071things. Am I tracking that properly? So when this came up, I would have assumed that you would have because you're still community engagement and things and you still have that background just to have that uh um a grouping of individuals with various lenses. So Miss Folk, how did the information because you said that's all who was available at the time for those three companies. Did the email go out to the the committee that I'm talk that I'm referencing those members that where Dr. Chapman used to weigh in on like did Dr. Would Dr. Chapman have seen it and been able to say, "Hey, okay, I'm available this time or not?" This was very time-sensitive. The uh responses were very specific to just the owner's rep. and in working with legal counsel, they came in on

072the 13th. We were trying to do the vetting in time to make it on the agenda for this one. We did reach out to uh the school principal and other people that could be available. No, Miss Chapman was not included this time, but we did not do it intentionally. We were trying to meet the requirements to have a group of people that could work with vetting these items that had assisted before. Mr. Leonard had assisted before, Miss Atkins had assisted before, obviously myself and legal counsel in order to read and vet these particular responses and by from the six we we got the responses on the 13th and we had to vet by that Friday. So, thank you for your question. Thank you. Um, uh, member Harrison. Yes, please. And member Mona, I think I

073saw your hand. So, please, after member Harrison concludes, you've been recognized. Thank you, Madam Chair. And I don't want to belabor this point, but I do want to get to the point. Um, the point is we have to diversify some of the input in these contracts. Okay, that's that's my point. Okay, we have to have um we can no longer talk about we we were under a time constraint because we we we know we have to build two schools and and we know in August that we're going to need a snow contract before December. So some of these things it it seems like we're making headway and then out of efficiency or or with the thought of efficiency that we're moving back and it's simply that we need to remember that this is taxpayer dollars

074and when we have a small group of people making large decisions it just doesn't work out for the taxpayer. So, we were putting great safeguards and guard rails in place last year this time. Um and and I would just ask that the the legal counsel and and you madam superintendent but you just kind of hear the board and it wasn't one board member but it was a collective voice of the board saying that we want safeguards and we want to diversify some of these contracts and we want different eyes on them and um so we want to do it in a way or or in a time frame that we're not saying we had to do this before this date. Um so and and this is not intended to um take away from business affairs

075at all um and the work that that Deborah Folk does and the work that everyone does in that department. But we cannot have one department making these decisions. Thank you. And I was not planning to say anything tonight, but I do think that this is something that the board has brought up several times over a period of years and hearing my colleagues comments and hearing everything that is transpiring again yet again. I want to say first of all, thank you to Miss Faulk for including the uh proposals and the scoring sheets that um providing them so we can see them. But it is clear that more work is needed and I'm wondering if having leveled descriptive criteria might be part of the solution here. The way that we have for student assignments leveled descriptive criteria

076and rubrics. Dr. Chapman is amazing, but she is a busy woman and she can't be on every committee, but if we have the uh the rubrics, then she doesn't have to be on every committee because we have these safeguards in place. And so I would love to see um better safeguards in place also. Thank you. Thank you. Is there any other discussion? Board member uh member hall. Um and again thank you doc I mean Dr. Folk I just gave you another degree. Um [laughter] but yes thank you so much for all that you do and we know that you have a lot going on. Um, superintendent, I just wanted to do you had an opportunity to look at all of these contracts yourself and provide your feedback or the assistant superintendent. No, I did not

077participate in this round. Okay. So maybe wording I'm sorry I'm out of line, Madam Chair. Uh, member Hall. Yes. Thank you. Fine. I'm fine. Um, final final. [laughter] So when it says whereas uh the authorized committee consists of superintendent and you didn't have an opportunity to look at this to really make your um put your touch on it to ask those questions. Um, I I don't know if I can really vote yes to these because I just I don't think we've really like dug into it deep enough to really look at the contracts, really look to see. Now, I do understand, uh, Mrs. Folk, you said 223 there was no Akran representatives. So, I mean, no Akran people that had applied. Um but 224 you know there were a few Akran people and um I

078would just like to look into that a little bit more just because you know if we're talking about grow our own we also need to support our own. Thank you member Hall. Any other board member discussion? All right. Thank you superintendent. Or is this That was so yeah 22 point yeah we've already did the discussion so so I can make the recommendation um for the approval of the division recommend um recommendations resolutions and motions in section 22. Thank you superintendent. Is there a motion to approve the division recommendations, resolutions, and motions in uh category 22? So moved. It's been moved by member hall. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by Vice President Alexander. Is there any other discussion? Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Bowers. Roll call, please. Mr. Alexander, yes. Miss Audrey, yes.

079Miss Hall, um, abstain on 222. No to 22.4. Yes. On the balance. No to 20.4. I'm sorry. 22. 22.4. Yes. Reverend Harrison. Yes. Dr. Jackson. [cough and clears throat] No to 22.3 and 22.4 and yes on the balance. Dr. Molinar. Yes. So on 22.2 we are 5 0 with one abstension. 22.3 we are five zero with one abstension. Sorry. Five. No. Four. One with one abstension 41. And on 22.4 we are 42. I've got this wrong. on 22.3 it's 51 22.4 is 42 motions carry thank you Mr. hours. Next, we will have our business affairs recommendation. Superintendent Outley, does the board have any questions for section 23? Member Hall. Thank you, Madam President. So, 23.3 is the contract for snowplow. Um, and out of five companies, we only have one AAN. I'm curious of how

080this was put out. um because I don't think I saw an RFP. I don't think I saw a call um or any type of um request um to the community who could participate here in Akran if available. Um how was this list created? um are these people that we've used in the past and we just want to use them again or I'm I'm just curious of how people um were made aware of this. In this particular case, there was an RFP put out. It was put out on public purchase, which is a broadband item that allows everybody to know that there's some uh bid out there. We also called AMHA to see other people that they could also recommend within the area and we also tried to call other vendors in the area that we

081knew. We received 16 responses back and we went with the because some of them only actually bidded on a specific location. They did not bid on the district as a whole. So we went and vetted them down to the lowest cost per location to cover those. That's why you have the five of those. We have two Akran area companies. Um, it's located on the bottom of the one page. And then we did have some other companies in the surrounding area. We had one company that I will be honest with you, I don't think they read it correctly because they told us one of our sites would c and you do it by push, which is so many from zero to 5 in and 5 in above. And the response was $15,000 for one site on

082one push. So I don't even think they read it correctly. So we went with the lowest cost to cover the district so we could assign buildings to the companies with the lowest cost to keep it within the lowest cost that we had. But we really tried to put this out. It was on our website. It but public purchase is a blast out to all locations. We use it often and we're very successful in getting that. But we even called AMHA thinking they could give us some other people that we called and their comment was that they also struggled to get all of their properties because many people could not cover the all the locations. So we were very happy with the response to get 16 and then vetted them down to cover all the if

083as an example Miss Hall if you had the lowest cost for the two sites you got the two sites but maybe Dr. Molnar get the got got the next three because she was the lowest and you didn't bid on the the three that she would be uh assigned to and that's why we listed the schools locations to each vendor. Okay. Thank you. Just a followup. [clears throat] Sorry. Yes, you may have your followup, member hall, but then after your followup and response member Harrison. Thank you. Um I would just like to throw this out here. I know the city of Akran has a department where they have vendors um that are here in Akran that do multiple jobs. Maybe we might want to collaborate and talk with I think his name is well not I

084think I know his name is Brandon Lester and he does a lot of this work finding vendors getting contracts um seeing what what um what people do what in the city of Akran. He has a huge list and maybe we might want to collaborate with the city to find out what vendors are out there because they already have a database. They already are doing the work to find that out. So when you're looking for vendors, we don't have to, you know, all of these people that are in these different cities, they have their own school districts, too, right? So I would just encourage to see if we could u maybe you speak with Brandon. and I can give you his information just to see what else is out there so that when we are looking

085for vendors we won't keep you know asking you these questions about what about Akran what about you know companies in a because there may be a few more that just didn't know or they may not be connected to that portal you know to find out um what's happening so thank you member Harrison [clears throat] thank you madam chair madam chair um and and madam superintendent that I I want to um be really clear when when I say this the um when we ask Akran residents for to support the schools with a tax levy then they support us with a tax levy um and I don't think we give contracts to people in Akran just because they are from Akran because we still need to do good business but there are some contracts and we have

086again been saying this I've said this on this side have said this on that side. If I'm not on this side next year and I'm on that side, I'm going to say it on that side again. When we can, when we can, when we're talking about snow, when we're talking about painting, we're talking about cutting grass. Um, we need to invest back into Akran when we can and using the same vehicles. The systems that are available for us here now have not worked. They have not gotten what we have asked. And I I think we need to look at how we are conducting business because I don't think that we can ask. We're going to be asking in the next couple years and we want to make sure that we are doing our part to

087keep our tax base strong. And so what's convenient for us right now doesn't mean that it's going to always be convenient for us. So again, if we're starting small, I I know we've been talking about snow for the last four years. We've been talking about these snow contracts for the last four years and maybe we don't get it done this year, but it doesn't mean that we don't work on next year. Um, member Hall has a great ideal and there are several people that do those things for small businesses. We have Bounce. they are a a great asset to small business in Akran. So when we can conduct business um when we can use local people when we can recycle these tax dollars in our community we need to do that. Thank you. Very well

088said member Hall and member Harrison. Very well said. Uh member please. Thank you Madam Chair. Um my question of the six that are listed here are any of them uh women or minority owned? One of them is one of the six. Yes. Is that the one with that has the one school? No, it is not. [clears throat] Are you finished Audrey? Yes. Thank you. Okay. Thank you. um uh member folk and members of the board for uh that robust discussion. I think another thing to consider is council is that when we have these issues to bring it up with council because each council member that represents these various wards could take this back to their ward meetings to tap into the individuals in their their communities who have these various business. So, since we know

089each year what's coming up, what contracts are coming up, I think a very good way to your point, um, to everyone's point, but M Harrison, when we talk about recycling these same tax dollars, I'm more motivated if I know that these this district helps me to feed my family as well, it just makes more sense, right? And it's an easy thing to say this is what these are the RFP going out. Members of council, get it into your awards and what businesses do you have? So that'll be another strategy as member hall has shared her strategies just so we don't find oursel here again be very intentional um with it and with standard operating procedures even with emails that's not a lot of work you email the group who was the previous group to look

090over just email it and they respond one way or the other doesn't matter the urgency when it's due if you email the same group of people people respond and then we don't have to have these all these questions and you gray area of considerations that were made or were not. Thank you. Um All right, superintendent. Thank you. If there's no further questions or discussion, I would recommend the approval of the business affairs recommendations presented in category 23. Thank you, superintendent. Is there a motion to approve the business affairs recommendations in category 23? So moved. It's been moved by member hall. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by Vice President Alexander. Any discussion? Okay. Seeing and hearing none, uh, Mr. Bowers, roll call, please. Miss Audrey. No. On 23.3. Yes. On arrest, Miss Hall.

091No. on 23.3. Yes on the rest. Reverend Harrison. No. On 233. Yes. On the rest. Dr. Jackson. No. On 23.3. Yes. On the balance. [clears throat] Dr. Molinar. Yes. Mr. Alexander. Yes. 23.3 fails at 2 to 4. The balance passes 6. Thank you, Mr. Bower. Next, we'll have our committee reports starting with legal contracts and board policy. Thank you, Madam President. Uh legal contracts and board policy committee met on October the 27th with a full agenda. Um we had the administration team who did a very good job of help guiding us through a lot of these policies. The policies that we discussed during that time were personnel communication devices, uh the nepotism policy, diplom diploma for special circumstances and uh attendance policies. Uh all these are are the second reading for these policies. Uh we

092will uh have some discussion on our next committee meeting which will be on December the 1st at 5:30 in this room here. And that meeting will include policies uh transportation uh procurement of federal grants and funds, vendor relationships, public complaints, and equipment trans equipment tracking and inventory. Again, this is uh our report from October the 27th. This the committee will meet again on December 1st at 5:30 in this room here. Thank you. Thank you, Vice President Alexander. Next we will have our finance and capital management. Thank you madam chair. Madam chair we met um October 27th at 4:30 in this boardroom. Um our meeting was televised and recorded is on um our YouTube channel. Um we discussed our financial report from um October as our September and our October finance report. Um we previously did

093September. Um we discussed the capital management projects of the Piper um Miller South build as well as update on the north build and an update on um the Booked Ohio High Stadium as well as um Elllet Elllet um fire the fire um situation at Elllet um fieldhouse field house thank you I was thinking Garfield Fieldhouse but we don't have one but it was Ellen Fieldhouse house. Um so just want to throw that in there. Um so um our next finance meeting will be December 1st at 5 4:30 4:30 in the boardroom. Um and I also would like to revisit the um item 8.2 8.2. Um we'll ask for an approval of the September financial report because we didn't do it last month. Thank you. Uh, thank you, Vice Chair Harrison. Next, we'll have instructional policy

094and student achievement. Member Altry. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um, no report today. Our next meeting will be uh a week from today, November the 10th, 4:30 here. Um, and our agenda will be focusing specifically on that fourth E, entrepreneurship within our pathways. uh specifically uh our marketing and DECA. Um and then also we're going to be getting some uh highlights on staff who have been implementing some of the ideas from the Ron Clark Academy. So next Monday 4:30. Thank you. Thank you member Altry. Next we will have the student success celebration committee member hall. Thank you madame president. Um our next meeting is on on November 10th and we will be discussing talking about preschool. So we'll have some um of our students here from the preschool community. Thank you. All right. Great. Okay. That

095concludes our committee reports. However, we do have unfinished business as we do have um updates from our treasurer with the financial report. So at this time we'll have the financial report from our treasurer. Thank you, Madam President. As the tech guys are going to put that up there for me. Okay. So, we are going to go through our September monthly financial report. Our financial reports uh provide us with totals and comparisons for the month ended as well as the fiscal year to date. This report reflects the first three months of our fiscal year, which runs from July 1st to June 30th. So, we're now 25% of the way through this fiscal year. The story that we're going to see that this financial report is going to tell us is that our actual totals for the

096year so far are very close to our five-year forecast projections. So here on page three, this is our summary of current actual activity, the first set of blue, yellow, and green tiles at the top compare our 2025 yeartodate revenue, expenditure, and cash balance to the same year-to-ate amounts for 2024. So far this year, we've received almost 23.8 million more in revenue. Our expenditures have been 7.9 million less and our cash balance is almost $14.3 million higher than through September of last year. We'll go through this in greater detail on pages four and five. The second set of tiles is comparing these first three months of actual data plus nine months of projected data to the October 5-year forecast. Through the first three months of this fiscal year, our revenue has come in 717,000 lower and

097we have spent 431,000 less than expected. This gives us a net difference of -286,000 which is about.37% of our projected ending cash balance for the year. And we'll go into those details in more detail detail on page six. [clears throat] Down at the bottom, the we have the variance and cash balances comparison. The gray and blue chart at the bottom details the ups and downs of our cash balance. It's lining up last year's actual cash balances with our current year's first three months actual and then a projected nine months of cash balance. The gray bar represents last fiscal year. So 7124 to 63025. And the blue bar is this year. So from 7125 to 63026. This graphic highlights how our property tax collections cause two distinct cash flow cycles. Every year in in July, August

098and September and again in February, March and April, we receive our property tax income. During those months, our cash balances increase accordingly [snorts] as we post the revenue to our books. In between those months, our cash balance declines as we continue to spend without that property tax coming in. So, you can see that cycle going up and then down throughout the fiscal year twice there. Down at the very very bottom of the of that page, there are two tiles. The gray tile shows that we started the year with an $89.1 million cash balance. We're going to end the year with a $78.4 million cash balance. The blue tile shows that after three months, we're estimating that we will end the fiscal year with a $78.4 million cash balance, which is 2.73% lower than our October

099forecast. So, we're pretty much dead on here. On page four, we're breaking down our revenue in more detail for the month of for September. For the month of September, our total revenue was up 5.3 million. Your two sources account for almost all that difference. 4.2 million of that is from real estate taxes and reflects the new revenue from in the first year of our collection on our 2024 levy we passed. We also saw an increase of about 1.1 million in state aid and that's in the form of homestead and roll back. In section two, we see again that our actual revenue collections through September are now almost 23.8 million more than the collections for the first quarter of last school year. We've received 18.9 million more in real estate taxes, which makes up about 80%

100of that difference. And that makes sense because of our new our new levy. There were smaller increases in state revenue and other revenue that account for the other 20%, but there's no real significant items to note there. [snorts] On page five, [clears throat] we're going to break down our expenditures in more detail. [snorts] The top section is comparing the general fund expenses from September of 25 to September of 26. Our largest expense, salaries, and benefits are only 1% higher compared to last September with no real significant variances there. Purchase services were also slightly up when compared to last September, but our biggest variance is in all other expenditures, which is down 1.6 million, and that's because we spent less on supplies so far this year. In section two, we're looking at our total expenses so

101far this school year. Through three months, our expendites have been 7.9 million or 8.5% lower than the first quarter of last year. There's a 1% decrease in salaries and benefits and a 1% increase in purchase services which pretty much net each other out. The the category all other expenses accounts for almost all of this variance. And this is because so far this fall, we have not spent the same 3.8 million on textbook adoption this year. And we have spent less about 2.9 million less on buildings and grounds. [snorts] Moving on to page six. This ties everything together. I'm going to go into more detail um on [clears throat] the comparing to our five-year forecast projections. Again, this rep represents three months of actual numbers and nine months are projected. And we're comparing these numbers to

102the five-year forecast through three months. Our revenue is trending below projections by 717,000 which is about.19% different difference from our forecasted 377 million in revenue. On the expenditure side, we're trending favorably at 431,000 more than forecasted, but that's only 0.11% of our total 387,000 in million in expenses for the year. Down at the bottom left, you can see that expenses are down across all categories except non-utility property services. So, so far, our projections are very close to the actuals. Here is our monthly bank reconciliation. This is attached to the financial report. Uh this is prepared by our accountant each month and it represents all of our funds, not just the general fund. On the left hand side, you see our book balances. On the right hand side are our bank balances. At the end of

103September, we were maintaining total cash balances of $254 million. About 138 million of that is general fund. We perform this reconciliation every month as an internal control to [snorts] ensure to ensure the accuracy and completeness of our financial records. Also attached to the financials report is an investment summary from Redeeree Investments. We have general fund investments with Redeeree Star Ohio and Huntington Bank. Red tree is our largest portion of those investments and we expect to earn $2.1 million with them this year. And overall we're projecting that we'll earn 2.7 million on our general fund investments this year. So so far this year we have earned 780,000. So we're right on track. And that concludes my monthly financial report. Thank you uh Mr. Bobers for that. that we currently have no new business that I'm aware

104of. Um, one second. You uh you have a question. Approve that. Okay. Yeah. A motion to approve the financial the co-chair was saying Miss uh [laughter] says she had need to approve the uh financial report. All right. So, is there a motion to approve the financial report as read by Mr. Bowers? So, move. It's been moved by u Vice Chair Harrison. Is there a second? Second. Second. It's been second by member Altry. Any discussion? Member Hall. I do have one quick question. You said that uh purchasing was up. I think it was what 1.5%. I think that's what you said. Or you said purchasing was up. My question is, has there been any um I'm sorry. I thought purchasing. You said something. You said before you said something was down, but then you said purchasing

105was up. The the two variances net each other out. One's up about 717,000. The other one's down about 7 I believe it's salary is down 717 and then the other expenses are up seven. So it's like a it's almost a net zero for us. Okay. So Okay. No, I understand that. My question is um with the purchasing have we put any like as member Harrison said safeguards around the equipment being purchased? Have we looked into um and I said safeguard just because yeah that was a word but have we um put anything in place of purchasing and that's from everything such as equipment uh material that's going to the schools cuz I know that's a huge cost and um I'm just curious if we put any thing in place to just look at what is

106being purchased. I can tell you that this year especially everything is being scrutinized very closely. Mrs. Superintendent Otley is is is um very involved and Deb Folk is has been very cognizant of uh expenses we've been making this year and she has uh also worked heavily with uh keeping overtime under control. So, we're we're looking at everything. Great. I no new as far as I know, there haven't been any new procedures put in place. Okay. Thank you. All right. Thank you, member Hall. Okay. You had a followup. Yes. I just I guess my question I mean, you answered so much, but I guess the question wasn't really answered. Do we have safeguards or things in place now for equipment and purchasing stuff for the schools? Do we have something in place now? We have a

107system in place, but what we're looking to do is to be move it to electronic. When I discussed it during um the finance committee, we have a procedure called like an IF1 form. It's a paper copy. So, it does allow for some things to um get away from us. So we are looking at how we can make that more of an electronic system but we have to look at the entire system. We will also be looking at um administrative guidelines around a policy and the guidelines will tell us how to do the work but right now all of the process is not electronic and I would like to move it towards electronic. All right. Thank you. There's no other questions or discussion. Okay. Um, Mr. Bowers. Dr. Jackson. Yes. Dr. Molinar. Yes. Mr. Alexander. Yes.

108Miss Autri. Yes. Miss Hall. Yes. Reverend Harrison. Yes. Motion carries 6. Thank you, Mr. Bowers. Uh there is uh no new business that I'm aware of there. Do you have new business? Okay. Me, is there new business? Yes. Okay. Member Monar, new business. Thank you. Um, I guess with the failure of 233 this evening that just happened, um, I think it is safe to assume that it is going to snow and that is going to come back to the board. Um, [laughter] I I think uh actually I heard I'm sorry everybody. I heard there's a 40% chance next Monday. Um, so it could happen very very soon. And so, um, with that in mind, I I would like to, uh, reiterate what I heard my colleagues say about, um, what the board is looking for

109and communicating what we're looking for. And as a potential solution to that having leveled descriptive criteria so when we get the results of the RFP we can look at what the most responsive and most responsible looks like and have that way administration can describe to us what responsive and responsible meant and I think that can prevent a lot of our questions if that is sent to us even the rubric is sent to us in in Friday notes or something like that ahead of time so that way we can receive that even if the rubric hasn't been completed yet, just seeing the those levels of criteria and the priorities of administration would be very helpful to the board. Um, and then of course then the results before we vote again. Um, and then also I guess

110with Friday notes as as you mentioned too with our uh student board members, if we could add a section to Friday notes with the board the student board members, I think would be a lovely section to that also as a side. But thank you to add their reports to the notes though if they're prepar you know that it could be added onto the since they already have that so it's not creating new work for anyone. I saw the dream team over there nodding their heads like we all right thank you member Molinar for that. All right, that was good new business. We I I don't know about that 40% mullinger on Monday. We better with the contingency plan. Who are we already have in place to clear it because we going to have to do

111something because the board is not convenient convening um before before Monday. Member Harrison, please. Um yes, thank you, Madam Chair. I I believe our contracts would go through. What does our contracts go through? Are they yearly contracts or um maybe the legal council can tell us? I think they're year they're per year. Do we continue with the contracts or confirm and see if we have automatic? Okay. Um so yeah, that's uh okay. I know from the previous because let's just take care of this because we're not calling a special meeting. No. So if it's Thank you member Monar for that information. So uh the board can decide at this point because the question was do they automatically renew? If they automatically renew we wouldn't have to bring them um annually for the board to um

112approve because it would be if it's two years and it renews unless it's a problem. So Miss Folk, did you have something to add to that? The only thing that I would say is that [snorts] if we're in this um situation now, it goes back to again these patterns of having to go with something after the board has explicitly talked about what the desired outcome was. But Miss Folk, uh snow plowers do not automatically renew. Um, so it goes out each each uh fall to seek the vendors that would be interested in plowing for our district under our criteria. The criteria is that they must admit in or meet that they will start plowing at midnight on the day of the snow event. They must have everything cleared because they plow only. We as a

113district apply our own salt in the parking lots. Understood. The question is if it snows Monday with what this board just decided, what what does that what position does that put us in? You would not have any snow plowers to clear the Exactly. That's what we want to know. There are not renewals. Okay. That's what we want to know because what we don't want to do to member Monar's point while we're in this new business space, we may have to make a diff a motion in this new business to make sure we can take care of business if it snows on Monday. Um, but I don't know if we need to have some type of um contingency because it's for a year. We the contract is for a year and this is what they agreed

114on the these companies with the understanding. So, this might be one of those things where again we have to operate in wisdom. We uh we don't like it, but we prevention is better than cure um for us to come back. Member Hall, thank you, Madam President. Um I totally agree and thank you uh Dr. Muller for that. I said you should have led with that earlier, but you know, we are we're here for our kids and our concern is our students and our staff and making sure that everyone is safe. Um, but you know, it gets tiring from us asking for the same thing over and over, year after year, and we still get put in these same positions at the last minute to vote on something at the last minute. Like, this type of

115stuff should come in June. We know we have to do it. So, it shouldn't come in November to vote on something that we need in November. Um, so I guess I don't know, maybe our attorney can let us know. Can we bring that back to vote? Um if we're able to do that. Yeah, we can do it now in new business. Yeah, unless I Yeah, because we still need them. So, yeah. Um so the board can while because we're still in session. So although the original uh motion did not pass, a new motion can be made with the understanding that uh business fairs do re like earlier research on or um something with like some type of amendment. We would just have to amend it. But the business can be conducted. The motion just we

116have to be specific on what the motion is that we bring forth. Member Harrison. Yes. Uh, I don't have a problem with revisiting the motion, but I would like to know, do we have a provision? Because we hear sometimes that we we we entered into a contract because out of necessity, and I don't exactly know the legal language, but when we don't have a contract with someone and we need something, we enter into that contract or we provide the service. So, I'm sure that the district has some kind of fail safe. If we don't have a contract Monday and we need snow plowers for Monday, that's what I would like to know. Are we in a position um they use a term and I can't it's it's escaping me now. I think we can make

117a mo urgent necessity. Yeah. And I So, that's the motion, right? So, we would make because the board will still have to um Can I have a point of clarification? Yeah. I don't think we need a motion for urgent necessity is my point. There is a system in place somewhere. No, no, we no. I think we need clarification because if you so for the urgent necessity if we're saying for this one time hall to approve these contract that's why we need a clear um statement in the form of of a motion or amendment stating that if urg the use of urgent necessity in the event of you know such a calamity or whatever however we need to word that motion but that still doesn't back us in to whereas okay it was an urgent necessity

118so we went yes to all these cont So the where the our um the organization report or business affairs report that we said yes to the contracts versus if we're saying urgent necessity for a needs basis until we can get clarity on the contracts. And my point of clarification is and and and please help me if I'm wrong, but I think the superintendent has the authority to deem urgent necessity without a board motion. Okay, let's get clarification on that cuz Okay, he said we'll need to All right, so we can um Yeah. M I'm sorry member Alexander because um is there a way even let me back I want to say this we don't have a a contract with anybody right now since we don't have a contract with anyone we have people who there

119who could possibly do some snow removal. Can we use one of those companies just for this necessity piece, just to get it done until we come back to the next meeting and maybe have hopefully something to vote on? Because if if if if we vote on a contract tonight, that means that's going to be the contract we're going to have, period. Right. But so we don't really need to vote on a contract. We just need to make sure we have something in place in case we need them next week or even the the the next month if we need to. and then we can come back and vote on uh having a contract with someone and they can move on from there. I assume that's what we can do. I'm going to ask that question

120illegal. That's what we have to recess because I think the RFP may thing may be an issue cuz Yeah. So, all right. Um we're going to stand we we have executive session, but that's not our executive session business. So, we're going to stand in recess uh to clarify this matter because it is an important matter. So, we stand in recess at 7:25. so that we can get legal counsel concerning this uh snow removal situation. Thank you. Thank you. We apologize for the wait. The board stands reconvene from our recess concerning the resolution of 23.3 uh snow removal. So um it has been uh advised or brought to the attention of the board that a motion needs to be made to reconsider the resolution 23.3. Um the motion can only be brought by um a no

121vote on a person who voted no um to make the motion. Uh I do understand that uh a no vote uh is myself, Hall Harrison and Autry. We are the no votes. So is there a motion to consider resolution 23.3? A motion to is there a motion to reconsider? Motion I mean the resolution 23.3 concerning snow removal for AAN public schools. I make a motion to reconsider 23.3. Okay. Okay. The motion has been made by member hall. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by member Altry. Any discussion? Member Monner? Um, sorry. My question is, does it have to be the exact same motion for the whole year? Was that Yes. Thank you for the question, Member Hall. Um, by bringing this back up, um, I understand what we have to do, but going

122forward, I I really do ask that we stop bringing stuff, stop bringing contracts to the board the month that it has to be approved. Since I've been on this board, every contract is always, we have to do it right now. It gives the board no time for discussion. It gives the board no opportunity to say yes or no because we're caught up in this time crunch. Snow and ice should be brought to the board in June. We know it has to be done. We live in Ohio. So, I just ask superintendent and staff members to please bring stuff that's important. Give us a couple months so that we can make that decision of saying yes or no. All right. Thank you, uh, member Hall. Okay. So, the motion is on the floor. It's been moved,

123seconded, and discussion has been had. There's no other discussion. Member Bowers. Roll call, please. Miss Audrey, yes. Miss Hall, yes. Reverend Harrison, yes. Dr. Jackson, yes. [clears throat] Dr. Molinar, yes. Mr. Alexander, yes. Motion carries 6. Thank you. And thank you, member. Uh thank you member Monar for bringing that um to uh the body. Now we have to vote on the contract. Now we have to good good stuff. Now we have to vote. Thank you, Member Harrison. Truly, thank you. Now we have to vote. We voted to bring it back. And now um is there a motion to approve uh 23.3 in the business affairs uh recommendation section? So move. It's been moved by me, Vice President Alexander. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by member Hall. Any discussion? Seeing and hearing none,

124Mr. Bowers, please roll call. Miss Audrey, yes. Miss Hall, yes. Reverend Harrison, yes. Dr. Jackson, yes. Dr. Molinar, yes. Mr. Alexander, yes. Motion carries 6. Thank you. Uh there is a need to enter into executive session pursuant the Ohio Revised Code 121.22G3 conferences with an attorney for the public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are subject of pending or im or imminent court action. 121.22 22 G4 Preparing for conducting or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment. Is there a motion to go into executive session? So move. It's been moved by Vice President Alexander. Is there a second? Second. It's been seconded by member Hall. Any discussion? Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Bowers. Roll call, please. Miss Hall. Yes, Reverend Harrison.

125Yes, Dr. Jackson. Yes, Dr. [clears throat] Molinar. Yes, Mr. Alexander. Yes, Miss Audrey. Yes, 6. All right, we stand in recess for executive session at 7:52 p.m. Thank you. Hello and thank you. We stand back in session at from executive session at 8:11 p.m. There is action needed from executive session. Is there a motion to approve the settlement agreement and release for Summit County Common Please Court case number CV 0. So moved. It's been moved by member Hall. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by Vice President Alexander. Any discussion? Seeing and hearing none. Roll call, please. Mr. Bowers. Reverend Harrison. Yes. Dr. Jackson, yes. Dr. Molenar, yes. Yes. Mr. Alexander, yes. Miss Autri, yes. Miss Hall, yes. Motion carries 6. Thank you. Next, there uh is another motion 28.2 uh to approve the

126memorandum of understanding between the Akran Board of Education and the Akran Education Association. Is there a motion? So moved. It's been moved by member Hall. Is there a second? Second. It's been seconded by Was it Harrison? Oh, I heard a man's voice. Okay. Uh Al, [laughter] it's been seconded by member Altry. Any discussion? Okay. Seeing hearing none, Mr. Bowers. Roll call, please. Dr. Jackson, yes. Dr. Molinar, yes. Mr. Alexander, yes. Miss Autri, yes. Miss Hall, yes. Reverend Harrison, yes. Motion carries 6. Thank you for that, Mr. Bowers. Next, our next meeting will be Monday, November 24th, 2025. Is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. It's been moved by Vice President Alexander. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by member Hall. Any discussion? Okay, you have a wonderful evening. We stand adjourned and

127roll call. I'm too excited. Dr. Molinar, yes. [clears throat] Mr. Alexander, yes. Miss Audrey, yes. Miss Hall, yes. Reverend Harrison, yes. Dr. Jackson, yes. 6. All right, we stand adjourned at 8:13. You guys have a blessed evening. [music]