001[Music] [Applause] [Music] Good morning and welcome to this special board meeting of the Akran public school boards and the joint board of review with our um friends from the city. Um Mr. Thompson. Roll call, please. Mr. Alexander, present. Miss Autry, present. Reverend Harrison, present. Miss Jackson, present. Dr. Molnar, present. Five present. Two absent. Thank you. Uh, Dr. Thompson. Um, now we'll have the pledge of allegiance led um by Do we need to I I I believe that you're considering it an APS meeting because of the number of board members, but do we need to just do a roll call for the joint board of review as well? Yeah, I think that would be appropriate because it needs to be in the minutes. Thank you, mayor. Except I don't have the Yeah, we'll just uh I
002guess we'll do a roll call, please, for uh the members from the city that are members of the joint board of review. Mayor Malik, present. President Akran City Council, Marggo Somerville, present. Steve Friger, finance director for the city of Akran. Present Eupren Lash, director of neighborhood assistance, present. Phil Lombardo, budget chairman. Thank you. I think our secretary is has that. So we have an additional six members present. So that would make all of our JVR uh with a total of um five well actually four members from the school board, six from the city that announced that they were here. I think it's five and five, right? Well, currently we have two me we have four the vice president and president are appointed to the board are attend committee meetings and then are we have two
003appointed members which are here. Okay. We have five members from the city. So we have myself, President Somerville, uh Councilman Lombardo, Mr. Fricker, and Mr. Lash. Okay. Yeah. So I think the I think it's the goal is to have 10 members five and five based off of um the information we can uh look over that the information we had had four a total of four two board members and to Heidi and Dr. Robertson makes five the fifth person for the um yeah but board members there four board members and then the school administrator. Well, to uh the mayor's point, for clarity, it's five and five, including the superintendent. Got it. Okay. Next, we'll have the uh approve um sorry, the pledge of allegiance. Uh Mayor Malik, if you would, please. I pledge allegiance to the
004flag 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. Next, we have the approval of our previous meeting minutes. So moved. Thank you. It's been moved by Mayor Malik. Is there a second? Second. It's been second by President Somerville. Any discussion? Seeing and hearing none, we can move forward. I don't think we have to call it to a vote. We don't for a committee meeting. No, we don't. All right. Next, we'll um on the agenda, we have the citizen monitoring committees reports. Do we have an active citizen monitoring committee? To my knowledge, I'm not I'm not aware um of this comm this committee and who was reporting this the collection because this is the this meeting this collective hasn't
005come together in some time. So I guess now we're hashing this out in this uh meeting, but I'm not aware of President uh Mayor. Sure. I think my understanding and having spoken to Mr. Lash and others that previously per the contract citizen monitoring committee uh kind of reviewed expenditures from projects and then um you know was was really meant to dissolve after each segment. And so I think since there isn't an active segment under construction per the CLC's that that uh uh committee is not uh in existence. President Somerville, anything? You you said exactly what I was going to say. Yeah, I believe there was also per the contract kind of a a CLC access advisory committee that's also envisioned. I think that's also not actively working, but maybe something we can discuss later in
006the meeting. Thank you, Mayor. Uh, member Harrison. Uh, thank you, Madam Chair. Um, to to Mayor Malik's point and and and I think as we go down this agenda, I I want to make sure that not one entity dominates the meeting. Okay. I think um I have talked with um um President Somerville and I I I do think that this is a meeting where we can really get back to what we should have, what we shouldn't have, where we left off. Um and so as we look through the agenda, I think that uh my my my hope in having um initial joint border review, as I spoke with um uh member Altry when she was president, as I spoke with member Altry before she was president about the joint border review, I think this is
007an opportunity for us all to sit and loosely find out where we are and where we want to go. Um I think that that would be a way to proceed here today. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you. Um to me to uh the mayor's point um which I think are relevant points um that when projects began since the initial agreement were based around it seems like as I um peruse through it around CLC's and the project has been complete then it seems as though some of those committees that were designated for those purposes cease to currently have purpose and so um as the mayor stated as we gather here to your point is okay now moving forward forward. What What are we doing? And the next agenda item is based on new business as far
008as okay, what are we doing since we're collectively come together? Mayor Malik, thank you. Um, and uh, uh, based on uh, Pastor Harrison's point, I think that, you know, from my perspective, I know I'm sure we have some business to talk about today, but I guess my suggestion would be that we have several meetings uh, maybe over the next few months. Um, so that, you know, maybe today can be kind of like a level set and get it get information and get ideas on the table, kind of make sure we're all kind of on the same page. and then, you know, if we have a couple successive meetings, that'll maybe allow us to come to some decisions, you know, as appropriate. But I I agree, you know, we kind of need to make sure we're
009picking up where we left off. Thank you, U Vice President Alexander. Yes. Uh I I think what we have right now, we have an agenda that we we have on on tap right now. Let's go at our agenda today and then what we may need to do after this is we the the Akran public schools leaders can get with city leaders and come up and draft agendas for the future so we all know what we're having together. That'll be a little clear for all of us at this at this time. So I think right now we go with our our agenda and then we can push put together uh other agendas for the uh upcoming meetings. Thank you, Madam President. No problem. Thank you uh Vice President Alexander and I'm in agreement as we're moving
010forward on the agenda. Um we're at the point of new business and there it we have update on building projects. Now um one point of of clarity as I was looking through the agreement is it had the start date of the agreement but it also had the ending date of the agreement being December of 2033 unless the parties came together to agree upon um the dismantling and my my words not the agreement's words of the agreement. And so with that understanding as we're moving forward to talk about the updating building projects and I think you're absolutely right mayor that we need more meetings so that we know the rules of engagement like what are we talk what are we meeting to talk about where what are we forecasting what can we talk talk about because
011some of these things that's been mentioned in other in board meetings which I think led to us here everybody calling out the this joint board of reviews the city the city and what are we really calling you all out to do and to meet with you about. So again, I do appreciate your time. Um but what we can do based off of the agreement and um you know what what is the uh authority of the school district in le with the city with this agreement um I think those are and since we're going about to go into building pro like current building projects because um as I understand when I read through the agreement a majority of those projects have been completed to your earlier point and so now since we have this agreement that
012is fixed until 2033. I think as as we move forward to talk about the building project since this is like a skeleton agenda like what does that conversation look like? Because as also and please insight because I'm new to the to the table. I wasn't here at the onset of all these things. Um, but as I read it, it seems it very clear that it's the go the agreement is based upon community learning centers construction. And when you talk about the committee oversight as far as budgetary constraints and things like that, I only bring that up is because now if we're getting to building projects, we have some building projects and then what is this discussion leaning into? Because it's the language is CLC's. Um, and if that's something, Miss Folk, I know that she's
013that that is this the type of deep discussion that we're anticipating to get in or is this a later discussion because I don't want to belabor anything and I want everyone to come with their clear insights or understandings. Uh, mayor, sure. Um, I know that uh we've had a couple discussions uh with the city administration and APS administration about uh CLC issues over the last 15 months of this administration. Um I think perhaps uh it might be helpful Mr. Fker, our finance director, has some of kind of the the numbers around kind of where we're at. I know that kind of painting on a broad picture, you know, as we all know, the quarter percent income tax that paid for the borrowing for the CLC projects expires in 2033. And so I think that kind
014of was aligned to that contract. I know that from the city's perspective, we still have significant debt service through 2033 related to these projects. I think just under $200 million. Um and what I think is also notable is that um uh the quarter the the bonds that the debt that we borrowed is not just pledged against our quarter% CLC income tax. It's pledged against our entire city 2 and a half% income tax. So if there were a situation in which we were unable to pay the debt service in a given year, say, you know, we look at the economic outlook over the next few years, um we would be required to use our city income tax that we use for other city services to to pay that debt service. I think in the context of
015that it's not clear to me that we have any additional bonding capacity in the current income tax through 2033 but there are uh I understand there's reserves that we have in that account and then there's uh unexpended bond proceeds from prior projects. So I think Mr. Fricker you can kind of go a little bit more into detail on that. Right. So uh as the mayor said we have uh debt that is outstanding until 2033. So that that's the you know why the agreement goes out. So the original bonds uh and the income tax that was put in place to pay the bonds uh originally was a 30-year you know when we did the first year was was a 30-year bond issuance and then the tax was set to correspond with that 30 years. So that's
016why the income tax expires in 2033 and all of the bonds will be paid off in 2033. Uh so currently the city's paying approximately uh $20.3 million a year in debt service on the bonds. Uh part of that is the $3 million contribution that the schools make every year to the debt service fund. So that's the $3 million that goes in at the beginning. So the city pays essentially the remaining $17 million with its CLC income tax that it collects. Uh as the mayor said, uh any there's a reserve fund that is also put in place that uh accumulates any funds that we collect in CLC tax above what is required to be paid in debt service. Uh so that is there and that is set up for the bond holders to protect the bond
017holders in case there is ever a drop in the income tax. So over the years originally we built up a reserve fund balance uh up to approximately $20 million and then there was years on once all of the debt was put on where we we were actually drawing on that reserve. So the reserve was going down at that point. Uh and then the reserve also went down uh in 2020 and 2021 when we did have a dip in our income tax. Uh and it has since been growing a little bit. But that's primarily put in place to protect the city, you know, if there is a recession or something like that such that we don't have to dip into our operating portion of the income taxes in order to pay the debt service on the
018CLC bonds. Uh so as the mayor said, we have pledged our entire uh 2 and a half% of our income tax. So if there ever was a recession that the CLC tax uh wasn't sufficient to pay that, first we would dip into the reserves and then if that was exhausted, we would have to dip into the portion of the tax that we're using for our operating funds and our capital funds in order to pay the debt service on those bonds. Mr. Fricker, can you uh mayor, thank you so much uh for that. Uh you may about to ask him something and I'm going to follow up. So, mayor. Sure. I was just going to ask if you can also talk about the bond proceeds as well. Yes. So, the bond proceeds uh there's about $18
019million in bond proceeds. Uh that is the remnants of what was last issued in 2016. So, that was the final bond issuance. We issued $27 million of bonds in 2016. Uh all of those proceeds were transferred to the schools, I believe, within a year of the issuance. I don't know the specific dates. Uh I do have that back at the office, but uh and and that was the the the typical practice that we did with all of the bond issuances. we the city would issue the bonds and then the uh Acropublic schools would request draws of those bond proceeds which we would transfer over and then those proceeds were put into the school construction fund in order to fund the the CLC projects. Uh so to date there is as I said about $18 million
020worth of of proceeds you know so some of that is is the original proceeds and some of that is the interest that has been earned on those proceeds over the past approximately eight years. Uh so I think that we have you know the city has concerns uh based on the fact that those proceeds have been there uh as I said for eight years that there are arbitrage issues with those proceeds. So that is a big concern of the cities. Thank you sir. It's a big concern at the district as well. Um because the question now becomes if I'm following. Thank you for that. That was for that great layout because I was able to follow you very smoothly and I think this is one of the first time I'm very I appreciate that. Usually I
021confuse everyone when I talk about it was very succinct and yeah what I needed to follow along. So my question is u Mayor Malik just to be clear currently it's $200 million of debt related to CLT projects that the city will have to get right now. Is that Mr. Million is what mayor said. I do not have the specific amount of I could get that here. Uh okay. I'll have Mike actually look for that. But but so keep in mind there's there's outstanding principal which I believe is the last time I looked at was is approximately $160 million but then there's interest as well. So, you know, if you look at we're we're basically have uh you know, nine more years of $20 million debt service. So, that's $180 million. [Music] Okay. And so, I
022was asking that because the money when you, as I understood, you said when the city receives the money from the taxes, that percentage, it would then the school would do a draw on that money. You would send the money back to the school district. And this is how we have this reserve, this 18 million that's in the reserve. It is that it was supposed to be money that No. Yes. So each So each year we get a certain amount of income tax that comes into the city. Um so my understanding is that that 20 million 20.3 million that Mr. Fricker mentioned that APS then contributes sorry uh APS then contributes $3 million to the annual debt service and the city pays the remaining 17.3 out of that income tax that's received. If the income tax
023that we receive, the quarter% income tax in a given year is more than 17.3 then it it is in our CLC reserve fund. over the years that CLC reserve fund has grown to I believe it's roughly million dollar. Um, I think but I I just want us to be careful because I really want to note that $18 million is a significant amount of money, but in the context of all of that debt, the outstanding, you know, $180 million pledged against our 2.5% income tax over the next nine years that we have to be very careful that we don't end up having to dip into not just the reserve, but also the rest of our income tax and so that's that I mean we view that reserve as kind of sacrian we need to be careful
024to have that reserve in place I think the other place that Mr. Fricker mentioned is the bond proceeds. I think this has been the subject of discussion over the last few years due to facilities discussions here within APS and I know that at one point uh there was commitment from Mayor Han and the previous administration that roughly half of that funding uh could go towards uh the Piper Miller South project. I think I have maintained in this administration that that commitment. Um I don't know if that's still the direction that we would want to go. I think there's a lot of questions around like how that would operate under the agreement. Would that require us to amend the agreement? Um but I think the other question is um you know what does that mean for
025CLC's? So, if that money were used for Feifer, would it be a CLC? Uh, you know, how does that fit into the decommissioning of Miller South? Uh, that's something that President Somerville has raised. Making sure that we have a long-term plan for the decommissioning of schools. Um, you know, what would the rest of those bond proceeds be used for? Um, I think all of that, you know, should be a subject of our discussion over the coming months. I think the other point, Mr. Fer touched on it briefly is that as we've discussed previously with administration, I think we do have a concern based on the significant amount of interest that has accured on those bond proceeds since 2016 that some of that may be uh payable to the federal government to the IRS given uh
026the interest that's accured there. And so I think we would rather than saying there's $16 million and how do we spend that? I think we have to probably start by setting aside a portion of that thinking that we will have to pay that um uh to the IRS um and then from there whether it's 14 million or 12 million or whatever it is thinking about how that could potentially be used for projects. Um I think at the end of the day it either has to be used for projects or it has to be it has to pay down the debt service. So thank you mayor. That that was my question. That's where that's what I was the questioning that I was going to lean into is if this money is going into a reserve because
027that's how I understood you to explain is that this money this eight it was $18 million. So there's two it's the bond issue right it's the bond issue which is one of the things that is a little confusing is there are actually two separate funds of $18 million. One is the bond proceeds that the school has custody of right now. Uh and the second is our reserve fund that the city has custody of. So that reserve fund, as the mayor said, is there to protect us uh in the case that there's a recession and the income tax uh collections drop. It's also pledged to the bond holder. So it's really not even a matter of of you know being able to to even look at using that for that is in the bond indenture there
028to protect the bond holders in case uh there's an economic downturn. So it's it's basically pledge to them. Uh you know so now the other thing I want to add is you know we've been talking about the arbitrage concerns that we have. One of the things I think as the mayor said I think a good first step would be to try to determine what what that amount might be. Uh and in order to do that we are going to need the assistance of the schools to basically look back at you know since the proceeds were distributed to the schools. You know some of them were used to build school projects some of them earn interest. In order to do those calculations, we're going to need essentially the school's construction fund records in order to determine
029what the arbitrage amount is. So, that's something I think that we want to kind of lay out. Okay. Um, member Harrison. Thank you, Madam Chair. Um I I I think we have a few things going on here and for the sake of um the school system. Um you know I think we we we need to be clear that as we talk about the quarter% um tax and we talk about the bond that we're talking about taxpayers money. Okay. And and and how this originally started was the schools and the city got together because we understood that we needed buildings. We needed school new school buildings and we understood to have a um healthy vibrant city um that it was to both our interest to build schools for our children. Um so as the agreement was
030put in place, the city and the um school district came together to put this agreement in place that was mutually beneficial. Okay? And each side knew um not only the benefits but we also knew the risk and each side agreed to uh those principles. Okay. And so to um speak of one entity um being careful to leverage in the event that a recession happens um in the event that we can no longer or the one entity can no longer pay their responsible share or what was agreed to. Um I I I I have to speak as a board member and say the school board is in a recession and as we um come to this table monies that was promised we don't have okay um for the schools. So, so I just want to be
031clear that as we are talking about this that we all entered into this thing with known risk and now no one side should expect the other side to take um to not be protected. I would ask that Mr. Fricker would submit um the oral report that he just gave us to the school district. And as we um and I'm not saying this in a negative way, but the school district has I mean the the city has the benefit of having um a finance director and a team that is salary. They have the benefit of a law department that is salary. Anything that we do as a district now in this agreement, the school district has the liability of paying for whatever we do and whatever decision we make now um concerning the arbitrage, concerning um
032the building. We built our last building in 2021 20ou it was completed in 2022. Um we um the joint board of review um not only does not have functional committees but I was reading um and I think Miss Folk brought this up in a meeting in 2019 that the committees needed to be um the citizens committee needed to be reenacted. So again, um, as I talked with President Somerville, it is good. This information is good, but I think we need to have this information in writing and we need the benefit of educating ourselves before we come because I think we're getting away from whatever we do with this money, we possibly have to go back to taxpayers to ask them permission to do anything with this money. and the uh it's a question. It's a
033question in my mind as a taxpayer if I pass a a a tax increase and that money is going to be used for anything other than what it was passed for. I would think that the taxpayers should have the benefit of weighing in on it and especially since we don't have a citizens a functioning citizens committee. Um, uh, President Somerville and I again talked Wednesday because she's unclear and I'm unclear. Well, I can't speak for her, but we seem to be unclear on a whole bunch of things because we were not at the table in the original agreement and a lot has changed. So, Madame President, I would ask that we would get these things in writing and that we would have the opportunity to review um their position. I have been following the joint
034board to review well not the joint I have been following the building of schools for the last 15 years. There are some um things that should have happened that didn't happen. there are some communities that feel like they didn't have the benefit of other communities. Um, and that's all of our issue. And so again, I would ask that the city would submit what they just gave us in writing and that we can then uh maybe even as individuals talk among ourselves. Um because as I listen now again, it seems like as and as they should because they are responsible. It seems like the city has all of the information and the historical background, but we're not privy to that. We've had five four superintendent. We've had two treasurers. We had numerous board members. Um, so
035I would ask that we would start there um and have the benefit of that information, the financial information and the city's position on that information. Thank you. The president, thank you, Madam President. And to Mayor Malik's point and also Pastor Harrison's point, I think that is why it's clear that we understand we're not going to be able to solve it all today, right? and that clearly there's going to need to be a series of meetings and conversations so that we can all be educated because I think the other thing that we have to have a clear understanding is how can these funds even be used? What can we use them for? Um, and Mayor Mallet kind of mentioned this, but I want to go back to it. For me, my concern is before we think
036about entering into another agreement with Akran public schools in terms of building anything any more CLC's, we've got to make sure that Akran residents have access to buildings. That is a big problem for me. Um, and so I just want to make that very clear. Before we talk about partnering on building anything together, we've got to make sure that CLC's are accessible to Akran residents and they have the ability to use those centers. Uh my other concern is when Akran public schools decommission schools there must be a plan you know the idea that you know Agra public schools just kind of walks away from the building and it is the community that is left to deal with the blight uh and ultimately the city of Akran is held 100% responsible on the demolition you know
037and and again there has to be some responsibility from AP PS to help address, you know, these buildings when in fact they are decommissioned. So again, those are just some concerns I'm hoping in this series of these meetings and conversations that we can really, you know, talk about. Um, yes, Mayor Malik, excuse me. Thank you. Um I think uh particularly uh to Pastor Harrison's uh point um I think certainly we should share this information uh uh in writing. I think also as Mr. Fricker mentioned there is some information that the city does not have as well. And so I think it's it's kind of making sure that that each entity has all the information we we can. I think that um to the other point um you know the CLC agreement is is very complex.
038It's I think one of the most complex agreements I've ever seen. And so, um, I think it would, you know, behoove us that we, you know, make sure it take some time and, uh, uh, all have an opportunity to review that, but also, frankly, that that, uh, you know, our city law department, that APS council have an opportunity to really dig into that because I think it's highly technical. I think, you know, there are probably some places that are that are uh, that can be interpreted in different ways. And I think whatever we do going forward, we want to make sure that we are hewing to that agreement. Um, you know, as as much as possible, we're required to. Um, so I think there there's a lot here to your point, sir. Thank you. And
039as it's already been stated, this is such a multiaceted situation that um as to Mayor Malik's earlier point, we have to meet more regular more regularly to unpack everything that we're talking about. Um President Somerville about blighted buildings. This has been an issue that's come up even in board meetings. Um and again, we're talking about building projects. Now, I just want to go back a little bit because as I was understanding when we were talking about these funds and the usage of the funds because um member Harrison made a point about going back to voters and what I'm trying to get clarity and I just want to say it on the mic. So, as we're researching these things that if the decision has already been made for the schools, this the the the extra money
040that um or the leftovers after the building project and there are things that need to be done to these same schools or repairs or things like that, then because it was designated funds for these schools that possibly these funds could be used for um some of the management. It's a question. I'm not saying this as a declarative statement. if these funds that were already designated for these specific CLC's and if I'm understanding it's money that was left in the reserve from the building because the money was supposed to go for the construction in the building um of this project that if the money is there as designated funds for these project then certain repairs or things that may need to be happen for the management of these buildings that that money without going back on
041the ballot without seeking additional approval should be it seems to be applied towards those things is that so I will say the use of the funds has to be used for either the capital construction of facilities or to pay back debt service. So it cannot be used for operating costs or anything like that. It has to be it has to be capital like if it's a one excuse me sorry I didn't mean to cut your wisdom I apologize. Um, that's what I'm I'm I'm talking about capital improvements. I'm building repairs that um it almost seems that it shouldn't be if a building was made built 20 years ago was built for a tough it shouldn't need repairs. But as I'm understanding, some of these CLC's are in need of some capital improvements. And so the
042my what I'm positing here is if that money that was designated then could be used for those capital improvements. Not saying you have to answer it now. This is just a process. The other part that I'm trying to get clarity on is when we talk about the two pots of money. The one part pot of money and I anyone chime in on this. It seems that it's not our discussion to have. It is for the city and the citizens of Akran as a safeguard um in the event to say, "Hey, we're not going to overly try to just stretch you out more than we need to that this reserve is here because we have committed in good faith this project with Akran public schools." Um, mayor, can you give me some is that correct? That
043other pot of money is that? Yes. I mean, it's essentially the reserve as as has been stated. And so, you know, we're not in a position to expend that on um on anything else, right? Um you know, I think my understanding, I think I'm right, is that the income tax money that came in was never directly applied to projects. That's correct, Mr. Fricker. Correct. It was used to pay for bonds, right? So, you know, income tax money would come in, we would, you know, uh uh commission bonds and then we would pay the debt service on the bond. So, um you know, this I think um and and definitely, you know, appreciate Pastor Harrison your point about expectations and risk. I think it's just um you know to me knowing that um uh that quarter
044percent was pledged against the whole two and a half percent that was something that you know very much surprised me when I first learned about it a few years ago. Um and we are all you know as we look at the stock market today as we look at all of the challenges that all of our organizations are facing just want to be cognizant of that we all need to deliver you know service to our residents to our students into the future. Um so I think you know that piece is really just a question of like is that that debt service is there to pay off that reserve is there to pay off the debt service you know the bond proceeds I think that is pretty much where and I think the other point to Mr.
045Ferguser's point is that there really is not additional bonding capacity, right? So, it does not appear that we are in a position to borrow any additional money based on that income tax, right? Um, and so really that just leaves us as far as the joint board of review goes with, you know, how do we dispose of these bond proceeds that are currently there that were not expended in 2016? I think that was um my understanding of Mr. pricker, you know, as part of the Garfield and Elllet projects. Those were funds that basically were were left over from that that we we borrowed beyond what was ultimately spent. Thank you, Mayor Malik. Dr. Thompson. So, the the two funds, one fund isn't even in play right now. It's not it really is shouldn't even be on
046the table. that that maybe the discussion needs to be looking forward thinking if there are proceeds remaining at the end of 3033 what happens then but that's a question for 3033 what board the board's probably more used to hearing is our O4 account that's $18,190,000 sits in that account right now and the reason we're having an arbitrage problem for those of you that aren't familiar with arbitrage the the federal government only let you borrow so much money and then invest and make so much money off of that before they start to basically p penalize you. And that's what we have to figure out because that money just keeps sitting there and keeps sitting there and keeps sitting there because it's in dispute about who can use it and how it can be used is is
047the question. So the longer we delay on making a decision about that $18.1 million, the greater our risk is of losing additional dollars to arbitrage. So um you know, we've had some discussions previously about how to spend that $18 million down. I don't think anybody's at 16% acrewing each year in construction costs over the last couple of years, yearover-year. uh our projects that we do have remaining which are not technically CLC's um are we're going to have you I I'm concerned about being able to hit the threshold of being able to pay for the construction of those um projects. But um nonetheless that that if we can just start to work on from my selfish perspective and I do have those those all those they're right here on my phone. pulled them up before we
048came down here. So, I'll make sure I print them off and you get those, Steve. Um, we know exactly how much is there. And and although the buildings are complete, there were built in six segments, segment six is still not closed through the OFCC. So, that's not closed. So, even though the building's been under use for the last couple of years, we're very close to that, but not officially closed. So, Valerie Mills is working on that issue. She's our controller. She's on it. Um she's doing a great job with that and working with the state to get that closed out because we won't know final dollar amounts, final arbitrage, any of that until segment six closes. So, um I I know that we we have at least um considered and budgeting for uh buildings to
049be there there are there is built into the budget of our current builds to take the pre the Pyer and Miller South down. So, those those funds are in place for that project. We planned for that. We budgeted for that. Now, now assuming we can still afford it, but that that was the in the plans. Okay, so just so I'm clear, so you guys have budgeted to take down Miller South. That's correct. Okay, that's good news. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you, Dr. Thompson. Who's uh Mr. Harrison? Member Harrison, excuse me. Thank you, Madam Chair. Uh thank you, Dr. Thompson. that I I I guess that's what I was trying to get to is that we should only be concerned with the one pot of money. Correct. The the the way the city manages their
050however they did is it's the way they they manage um and and you know I appreciate um Mayor Malik and um Chair Jackson. I I appreciate this meeting. Um I appreciate the opportunity to have the conversation. um because it it has been on the table a long time. Um, but I I would be remiss without uh saying um that the original reason we went we entered into this agreement is the city of Akran needed healthy schools and the children of Akran needed safe dry buildings and we still have two buildings. that have to be completed to do that to accomplish that. Um, most importantly, the citizens of Van said that North High School, North the North community needed they we owed it to them to build a building and they they approved that by 59%.
051Um, so if we're talking money, um, I would say that we we all entered into an agreement as adults, um, as leaders, let let me say that, as leaders, as elected leaders to provide safe, dry, warm schools for our students. Um, and I would just like to make sure that we understand Miller South and Pyford needs to be built. Um and as we continue this series of conversation u we had a um finance meeting cost of construction um well before this week was going up at 16%. So even as we have these discussions um whether it's$ 18 million or 16 million that million those millions decreased by 25% Tuesday. Um so I would ask that we would focus on that issue um immediately to find a resolution um because the kids still need a warm,
052safe, dry place to learn um and the citizens um we still have an open promise to them that we would provide that as um a city and as a school district. Thank you. But just as a point of order that we remain germanine on this topic because the mil pyer build in Miller South is not a part of this um agreement that we're discussing on today. And so the goal for this meeting is to focus on this cooperative agreement that was established May of whatever year I can't recall it now. and to move forward with the understanding of that agreement. Um because as I understand it, this um group and the uh the city, unless I'm missing something, is not in agree is not in any um bonded cooperative agreement regarding our new construction prog
053um projects that we agreed upon for the the for this agreement. I'm saying as far as the this cooperative agreement that that's not in this and that's what we're talking about. Am I unclear about that? U I think that just uh having mentioned the previous administration and some of the prior discussion about potentially using those bond proceeds for the Piper Miller South project. It sounds like that is not currently uh within the plan. Um but um just one second. Not that it's not in the plan. I just after read looking over this plan I I'm I'm just seeking clarity of how it became a part of the plan as as not a CLC. That's all I'm asking because I understand the conversation which is what you led with Mayor Malik that you that you're going
054to continue the commitment of the previous that you still believe in the Miller South and the um Piper project. But I'm I'm just saying for this meeting um and it I don't know the answer. That's why I'm asking and what Reverend Harrison was speaking and the treasur can speak to. I was unclear when I looked through this of how that would happen versus the question that I posited that the current CLC's that may need uh funds could that money be used for that or do we make those that any new construction is CLC? So, and I think that's that that was all I was going to say is that I think that's the question is I think that all of the discussions around potentially ever using those bond proceeds for PIFER for any project were
055all kind of at a very hypothetical abstract level. were never reduced to, you know, an agreement, were never approved by this uh uh they never got to the point where they would be recommended by the joint board, would be accepted by the school board. Um and so they were very hypothetical and so I think there is a lot of questions around how that would work to your point, you know, if any bond proceed money was used for that project or for North, would that make them CLC's? I don't know. Is it in our community's interest for those projects to be LC CLC's potentially, right? But I think that's a really big question. And so I think however these funds are whatever priorities we all collectively have for these funds, I think we have a lot
056of questions over how that would work in practice because I think all of the discussion has been kind of very abstract and without uh respect to like how it would work in the agreement. I don't know if you spend a dollar from this fund on a building, does that make it a CLC? I don't know. Right. And so those are some that's why I think we need to go to the agreement and really dig into that. Thank you madam. Thank you for thank you for that u mayor and that's that's my question because the agreement is about CLC's and so I don't know um but I'm not a lawyer and it seems like legal could uh could weigh in heavier because if the money is used towards this is just from a layman's term this
057is just from me a non-awyer. If the money can be used, if money can be put towards uh Piper and Miller South, then they become in some essence in instance of CLC, if the construction could be made with that. And I think you um posited earlier uh do we need to like um modify or amend the current agreement with some language. So I think the most important thing is getting to that because everyone keeps asking since I came on this board, what about this money? What about this money? What to do with this money? And then it's a lot of like you said theoretical things that are posited and it's like what is the action step? It's this is theoretical like what is actual action item that can be aligned with this and can this
058happen? Um the debt the money um as you said Mr. Frick Fricker. Yes. um it can be used for either capital um capital improvements or to pay pay debt service the the debt service and so that's my head is just keep going there because if he's used for capital improvement it's still a a debt but then that interest situation is not sitting there acrew is being actively used so we we um don't run the risk of the penalty um so this is are the type of things that I'm process processing that I feel we need to answer. You know, they say how do you eat the elephant one bit at a time. So, first it's almost seems like we have to people need to go back maybe through the agreement and pull out those areas
059because I actually read through it and highlighted. That's why when I'm sitting here, I'm very uh perplexed about the conversation because I feel like the agreement is clear in some areas, but the conversation doesn't seem like it's clear. And so, um, I'm sorry that that's just that's my statement and I want to recognize member who was member Harrison. Yes. Um, m Madam Chair, I want to speak to your point of order first. Um, no school is mentioned in the agreement. Okay. CLC. So, no, just just CLC's. And so, um, when I speak of Miller South Piper, that has been on the table for a long time. Um, but the original agreement did not mention any schools. It mentioned CLC's. Um in the original agreement we um have um there were um a fixed number of
060schools that were going to be built. Um so the agreement has changed um as as needed. I'm going to say that as needed by the different administrators. Um in the minutes that we just approved that were just approved. Christine Fowler Mack spoke of um looking at this agreement and amending the agreement as needed to um that particular time. I think that was in 22. Um so when I speak about the agreement, when I speak about building schools, I speak of the purpose that we came together and that was to build schools. And so if there's any money that is to be discussed and we are still building schools, it would be a logical um assumption on my part that that we're talking about money to build schools. And if any other thing that we do
061with money um that is not building schools, um I think the taxpayers should have the benefit of u weighing in on it. But I speak of Miller South and Pyer because we have passed a bond to build North. The money was collected to build schools. That's why I speak of that because we we still need to do that. Understood. Thank you. Um uh member Harrison and the only clarification not in disagreement with anything that you said was the clarification was when I'm thinking CLC. So I'm just thinking I'm thinking the not abstractly like I'm just thinking from the black and white and so to your point then my mind goes okay so they would have to be a CLC and then what would that take for them to be a CLC or if said money
062like you said warm safe dry would go into uh capital improvements of buildings that this money was already earmarked for. So that's kind of I think we are saying it's just giving me greater insight where I'm trying to say okay if it's focus if it's um if it's designated funds as I've always understood designated funds have to be used for what they're designated for and so when I saw the CLC language it takes and you like when you were just talking about Miller South and Piper I'm like okay so are these going to be CLC's is north going to be a CLC because although it doesn't say specific school it is specific on what's being constructed and that's a CLC. So, just for clarity, that's why I said that, but I'm in agreement with everything
063that you said. Uh, Mayor Mallet. Sure. Um, I just had a question uh for Dr. Thompson. Um, but I I'm sorry, I didn't mean to uh interrupt you. um in the funding structure that's planned for Piper and North um you know in APS's plans has that included funding from these bond proceeds? Yes. Uh, one of our original conversations with Mayor Han at the time um was that it would be a split of those funds. And then um then there was more discussions and concerns that were echoed um by President Somerville of the buildings that we have sold, but we sold them and then owners essentially didn't fulfill their diligence of being owners of buildings. Very difficult for the city to trace down and it ends up being in the lap of the city. The school
064district uh sold them you know, so so there so then it segueed shortly after that into discussions about well how could we what if we used the rest of the money and tore all these buildings down was some of the early discussions and then they stopped. So but since its onset we have budgeted $8 million because we believe it was $16 million in the fund at that time in the O4 count at that time um towards the Miller South Piper build. So, if the if none of those funds were to um be able to be used for that project, uh we predicated our COP steel, our certificates of participation, which is how we funded the majority of that build, um coupled with some reserve set from Esser dollars, we would be short uh $8 million.
065So I think with that uh with that in mind I think a big question for us is one whether that um whether that that is the wish of the joint board of review right I think secondly um uh what that would mean in practice right so would using $8 million of bond proceed money uh for the pip for Miller South project if that is what the board the joint board wants to do which I'm not assuming but if that is what the joint board wants to do um whether that would make that project a CLC what would needed to be what would need to be done under the agreement would it need to be amended you know all of those things I think that's a that's a big I I think to me the the
066arbitrage question is question one and this is probably question you madam chair I certainly embarrassing thank you madam chair I certainly appreciate uh Mayor Shamus' question because that that's very relevant question and I think that um and and that particular question um we um as a board um would um lean into the superintendants um reports and his recommendation and I think that we would have to um certainly defer referred to him um and the board. And that's not something that we could um that's something that the um we would have to really um have the superintendent give us um recommendations on. Vice President Alex, member Molinard. Member Yes. Member Morard. Thank you. Thank you, Madame President. Um, I appreciate all of these comments. Um, and especially the last question from the mayor. Um, is this
067the wish of the joint border review? Because as I sit here, as I'm gathering all this information, pot of money A, pot of money B, and group of people C, right? Um, how many of the meetings um are city meetings? How many of the meetings are school district meetings, administrative meetings, as as member Harrison said, and how many of them are joint board? if if we're having a series of meetings, what types of things do we need to look at? Because eventually, I'm guessing since I'm sitting around this table, I'm going to need to make a decision, right? Um, and so the type of information as a schoolboard representative that I think about um, and and I look at this contract, right, and and as we discuss confusion with this within this contract is not
068just what is mutually beneficial, as member Harrison has brought up several times, what's mutually beneficial, but also what's possible, what's feasible, what could be done, does it need edited, what edits need to occur, what would happen if we add a building or don't add a building. It's really difficult as a representative to think about what I'm going to advocate for um and what I'm going to try to work towards a compromise as a joint board if I don't know and and if I you know talk to constituents and things like that if I don't know the pros and cons of the various scenarios. And so I think for from a starting point, what I would really like and once again as member Harrison pointed out, our district does not have the financial or legal resources
069that the city has um in comparison. And so if the city could help us in drafting some hypotheticals, if we added Miller South Per this amount, what that would be if what that would do to the contract, how that fits into the current contract. if we add north what that looks like within the contract what that feasibility is and then once we have I think a grasp as a group of the feasibility then we can break off and then decide what are we advocating for. Thank you. Thank you. Member Molinar. Yes. Uh Vice President Alexander. All right. Uh this has been very very good discussion. Um there's some things I've learned that I I didn't know or I thought I may have known. I haven't been part of boy uh JBR in in years. Um
070but it sounds like um the two entities uh being the city and APS uh leadership needs to get together uh get a good understanding so we understand what is going on, understand the dollars, the pots of dollars and so forth and then uh begin to start uh saying okay we're ready to come back so it can be explained clearly. So everybody including the public will understand what is going on and how we can spend the money if we can and so forth and then be able to move forward. We also need to talk about that contract. I mean a lot about the contract. We do need to review the contract and see if there's anything we need to amend and so forth. So my recommendation would be that the the uh leadership of both uh
071entities get together to try to hash out some of this so we can get a good understanding come back to uh our entities and hope let them know know what that's going on and then come back as a uh JBR if we need to have that and then uh start moving forward as to how we want to uh manage and use the funds that we we may have access. Thank you Madam President. Thank you Vice President Alexander Member Archery. Thank you, Madam President. Um, and so as one of the members who sat on this JBR since 2020, I'm just hearing a lot of different things. Um, but the one issue that seems to um, not be as prominent that I think needs to be for our taxpayers is the access. And I know, uh, President
072Somerville touched upon it. So, that's what I continue to hear about. And I know there was a lot of work done. Um, I know one of our committees received the uh new CLC usage uh handbook. I think this is the committee that needs to really to see that. And I'm also interested in just hearing from folks who might still be falling through the cracks because I know we've recently heard at our board meetings uh issues with the access still. Um I think the community was expecting to have access and I'm sad that we're still here talking about that. that is not fully fleshed out and clear to everyone. Um, I know we're talking about this money and how it could be used. Um, it just makes sense to me that we somehow find a way
073to use it to offset the costs for these smaller community groups who are um, having challenges with accessing the buildings. So, um, as I look back on all the JBR minutes, I think I mention this at every single JBR committee meeting. And so, I think it's important that we just keep it on the table. And our taxpayers deserve to know um how they can access these buildings. And this committee needs to see the presentation as well on the work that I know has been done on that handbook. Thank you. Thank you. Um, one second, Mayor. Thank you, member Autry. And because there is a committee I I was trying to find, that's what I was going through my pages regarding the the CLC, the usage. It's a committee that's erected as part of the agreement.
074Um, as I under like a start about page 46. Um and it talks about it's the CLC advisory committee. Um and part of it says that the committee shall be composed of nine members as follows. Four members designated by the board of education to serve dagger two-year terms and reappointed like a whole committee for that which that committee is where who should be handling that discussion. And if done with fidelity, it's that committee that should have the community members and the things that we are faced with where the community is crying out at council meetings as well as board meetings. Those people are at the table. And so all those blind spots and those gray areas and the issues and the push back and the narratives that we are getting told and then the community
075is saying that is not true because I've tried to get in there. If the if they are the agitators the in a good way agitate I'm saying that and they're leading the change then it puts us in a better position because they are the forerunners of that but here this committee um would get recommendations then from that committee on what we need to do possibly to assist them but it's a committee that's supposed to be erected strictly for the management of that as I understand um and it and it's in agreement But I think that's what's been neglected like the other committee like the citizens committee that's been dispersed. This is what we may need to look at. I'm sorry. Thank you. Uh mayor, you may proceed. No, Madam President, I I 100% agree with
076you and I think, you know, from my perspective, um I think uh the points, Miss Autri, that you rais are are absolutely the right points for our two organizations to be focused on. I know we all hear very regularly about, you know, the the gap that is still there between the uh the expectations and the ideal for how these facilities would be used and the the reality which I think we are proud of of uh of to the extent that they are used but I think we all know that that we can raise the bar higher. Um, and so, you know, I guess from my perspective, I would like to see if maybe before the next joint board of review meeting, we can do some work uh particularly uh with the administration to uh see
077how we could potentially stand up that citizens committee. I also, you know, do want to note obviously that we have a number of folks from our teams who have been doing diligent work on this. Michelle Wardell, our educational health strategist, Miss Folk, uh, and and many other people. Um, and so, you know, I will just say, uh, uh, you know, I'm a little bit, uh, I I have strong opinions about this, too. Um, the first remark I made to Mr. Fricker was, you know, we got the $16 million in bond proceedings, uh, bond proceeds. You know, can we just spend some of that on insurance and we can just have a blanket insurance policy, right? You know, he was very very very very clear that uh the money that the money has to be used
078on capital as he stated today. But if if if that is you know I think that's been one issue that has recurred over the years that we have to tackle as organizations maybe it's not proper for the joint board to review but it's absolutely proper for the city of Akran and the school board and a public schools to be talking about that. So, um, I don't know, Michelle, would you like to speak at all to to the issues that that you know you all have been working on with regard to access and and why she's uh coming to the podium, I I also want to um address this also in the agreement concerning the CLC's, it makes reference to the I'm sorry, the liability of uh the insurance being on both entities in some type
079of way like there's a portion question that the district is responsible for and I need to go through it because I I read this earlier in the week but there is a there is discussion in there about insurance coverage that we're I don't want to quote that is 50/50 or something but if we look at that in some type of way of how we can best leverage that to whereas the the maybe the citizens if someone is getting it's a certain writer or we can get some type of corporate sponsor that covers the community writer um for what their portion they might have to pay just to throw out there as an option. Thank you. Um may go ahead. Is this the button? [Music] I think that was the button. I'm used to the button
080on the microphone, but there's one over here. Okay, you can press that again if you want. What do I want to do? Sorry. Oh, no. No, I don't. This is a offthe cuff thing. Um, thank you so much mayor for uh giving me the opportunity to talk about what has been going on. I know we've talked to many of you in different settings about some of the progress that we've made. Although the uh citiz the CLC advisory committee is not formally in place, there have been roughly nine people working on this issue for over a year. um uh Deborah Folk from the schools and a couple of people from her team um in uh the the youth success summit um folks have been working on it. They've been convening us together and um our team
081people at uh recreation at the city have all been working together. These are the people that are like really operating the CLC rentals and everything and they know all the ins and outs and and what we have done to this point is um to identify a number of issues that um are in the way for access and some of them are procedural and or and we can call them I I think of them as like the lowhanging fruit which is what we've been tackling. Let's make sure that our procedures are the same. Let's make sure that our fees look the same so that there is clarity. Let's put together a an online system so that paper isn't moving very slowly through the city between entities like let's put it all in one place which makes
082it more equitable. Um so these are the things that we have been able to accomplish to this point also. But there are cultural issues. There are there are customer service issues. There are there's the insurance issue and that this group is committed to continuing to tackle things one at a time. And on next up on our list is the insurance issue. There has been work done with that. We've um there's been um we've we've consulted with different insurance vendors about different ways that we can do it. We intend to put together some recommendations on what the community can do to solve that insurance issue. So I I do want you to rest assured that that work is being done and this agreement does have that formal committee and and if I mean it's mostly in
083place if you all are ready to push the button on it and we can make it a more formal thing and then present it to the different boards. So I I don't I believe that this board is about the construction and the funds for that construction. But the board of education and the committees of the board of education would are the ones that approve the usage of the CLC's along with um you know support from our city council and and administration. Thank you uh member Harrison. Um, thank you, Madam Chair. And I don't want to belabor the the the the point, but I I I do well well, I do want to belabor the point because I've been making this point for almost 15 20 years. Um, it is great when the city and and
084and members of the school district come together to um solve and and to really correct some of the issues and um do away with the lowhanging fruit. Um but we have still missed opportunities to involve the public. Um and as we had that that that um presentation um I shared with um Dr. Ellen McWilliam Woods um that there are um organizations um that don't have um resources um that are not formerly organized as nonprofits, but they're neighborhood organizations. grandmother who has five people who want to knit together on Wednesday nights. Um you know um they don't have access to these buildings and this has been a problem. And so when we have these committees and we put these things together and we sit down and um we we're going to appoint people on these committees
085and and as I looked at the um committees, they were all retired city employees, um retired school board members, but grandma wasn't on there. My nephew wasn't on there. So the people who are actually in the com in in a community who actually touch people every day, they need to be on these committees because those are where we fill in the gaps. And um I I I have, you know, railed against Deborah Folk um when I wasn't on the school board about access, but to Deborah Folk's credit, Deborah Folk has been saying that in these board review meetings as well. There is no citizen representation there. And we need to get rid of titles and put four people on this board who either coach football, who um coach cheerleaders, who have a sewing group. We
086need to put those people on this board because the first thing that we have with these learning centers is community. And so that's not something against the city or the the the the board, but that's what we have been missing is true representation from the community and that's what we built these schools for. Thank you for that, Member Harrison. And to to the point um thank you uh for sharing that you made if we want to formalize because the agreement already formalized that a committee should exist and based off of the agreement um it is written out very well and it says that the city appoints for the board appoints for and that it's a at large member right and so when you think about the appointments I think it's very important if you're going
087to create this such a committee which needs to be done with fidelity so that we meet the needs of our community, right, is that you need people who have the the the knowledge and the wherewithal from the city part and the school part. But to your other point, I think without question that a large member should be a community member and possibly if we re look at the agreement maybe it's it's three three and three like three board three board three city community and then at large is community like in some capacity. So it's like third, a third, a third, a third. I don't that's something to consider. But as it's written, it is four representatives. The city appoints four representative board appoints. They collectively come together and there is an atlarge person um whoever
088that atlarge person would be. In my mind theoretically when I'm looking at it, oh this should be a it's clearly somebody from the community who can speak. But when you're talking about one person for the whole city, it just seems like it would be um the fidelity will be in making it three city people like you know community people to some capacity. But it is the framework is there and just how we might want to um adjust that framework so that when we get together we take we have the recommendations and what's being said um and we know what's happening and then we can go on with the business of the finance the what we're supposed to be doing construction and how it's using any updates that need to happen the insurance discussion things like
089that. Um Mayor Malik did you Yes. Yeah. So I I totally agree and I think that we do need to have citizen participation in this. Um I think that you know people who are experiencing the obstacles you know need to be at the table when we're having these discussions. Um I think that you know it's a good action step. I think that, you know, hopefully prior to the next meeting, we can go ahead and formalize that uh advisory committee that's envisioned by the agreement um and make sure that there's citizen representation. I think that um you know in my mind there's maybe three things that we can do if I can suggest before the next next meeting that we can share information that's needed um so that we can hopefully at least come to understanding
090between our treasurer and our director of finance as to and to the extent that lawyers need to be involved about the next steps around this uh arbitrage issue. I think the second would be uh really uh digging into the contract and figuring out what uh uh the usage of what what are permitted and not permitted uh expenditures of funds and if uh funds are used for a project uh what does that mean for like the CLC status? Uh to me that's the second bucket and then the third bucket I think is uh uh formalizing the citizens advisory group around the CLC access. All right. Thank you, Mayor Malik. I'm in agreement with those um suggestions. As far as formalizing, I think the discussions can happen before we gather together. So all we're doing is when
091we do meet, it's already together. basically we already have those committees together because we know what the um what the mandate is the requirement from both sides based off the current agreement and so um I think that's a good start I think we have some good points at this meeting at this point at this uh point in juncture at 11:20 and so if there's not any other pressing topics that we need to bring up we've went over the agenda topics um Mayor Malik yeah do maybe would we want to just talk briefly would love to get folks feedback about, you know, setting that next meeting. So, do we think maybe we could meet every other month? Oh, yeah. That was part of the discussion before. Yeah. I just wanted to make sure before we left
092that Yeah. We're not Yes. And so, um I just to recap, we did deal with the updates on like building projects. We talked about that. We talked about LFI funds and because it's no clarity on on what those funds are supposed to be designated um from we just float naturally into the agenda and so I'm just formally recapping that we did follow the agenda I was as was set for this meeting and um to Mayor Malik's point and the earlier point that was made about regular scheduling meetings that we need to convene more regularly and so I think um as we get ready to before we adjourn this meeting um we can state that we'll uh get together and see um timing as far as that we need to meet at least um however many
093times a quarter that we think will be as suitable like twice a quarter um like that's what I I think mayor had a good suggestion every other month every oh I'm sorry I just went yeah Carla yeah so every other month but we have to check what what day would that be on every other month. Um, and what time is feasible for all parties if we do every other month or are we just going to do a polling? I think that's what we need to kind of discuss. We don't have to come up with that now. Every other month we know is a good time frame, but when every other month I think it'll be a discussion. Superintendent. Thank you, Madame President. um let the administration here um convene time with the mayor's office to
094look at when and the frequency of these meetings um because this is going to be an huge undertaking and I know it's an it's an urgent situation um but I want to make sure that we don't sit here and commit to something that um we end up not being able to do whether that's the cadence is every other month or every month or every twice a quarter. Let let us sit down and look at that and come back. I'm I'm fine with that as long as we are meeting regularly because it can't be like years in between. Uh yes, Madam President. Thank you, Madam President. And and I'm just thinking if members of this body have questions I don't know and I don't want to put anything more on Relle there. Is it okay for
095you know them to direct those questions to Michelle or how how do you think? Absolutely. I think that you know Michelle as the education and health strategist really is I think our policy lead when it comes to education for the city. Um I think that to the extent that there are finance related questions uh Mr. Fricker um really is the the expert and the lead there. Um and so I think you know I'll leave it to both of them and obviously Mr. Lash um you know as as the person overseeing our wreck and parks also has significant role when it comes to access um and helping lead like lead that piece. So you know any of the three uh I think can be available for questions um in the the meantime before we meet again.
096Member Alexander. Thank you. question. Uh, should we have all those individuals receive questions or should it maybe go to one person because we may miss something, but we should have it go directly to one person and they can send it back out. And if it's it pertains to those other areas or those those those uh finance or recreation and so forth, they can get the information back to her and she can get it back out because I think when you have too many uh too much information going to too many people, something's going to get lost. That that's fine. and Michelle can be the point person. We'll make sure after this to circulate um her email and phone number so that she can be the point person for all of that. And superintendent, thank you,
097President. Jackson, but I'm also going to ask that the access to whatever document is also accessible on the district side because we need to have somebody on the district side who has the same access to whatever it is that your person is receiving. um just so that we know what's going on and can respond as well. Who should be the point person from the district side? Right now, I will um have our chief of staff to cuz she's already been kind of working with this. So, right now, I'll have her to be the point person. Okay. Uh on our side, Miss Carter, Angel Carter. So, I would say that, you know, for any questions then if folks can include both Miss Carter and uh uh Miss Wardell. and then you just make sure it's shared
098with the board that um the board is aware. Uh thank you, member Monar. Thank you, Madame President. Um I hear that administrations are going to meet to determine the meetings. So I just wanted to advocate for what the mayor said, which is meeting every other month. Um so as those discussions and as those considerations are happening, like this is the first Friday of the month. I so I think that type of cadence would be really good as we talk about involving our community, as we talk about transparency. I think having that expectation even if and I I heard the superintendent say we might not be ready. And I think even if we aren't finished with something, an update on the progress and what's been done so far and while one organization might not have everything,
099the other organization might and the information that they could bring to us could help evolve what the other side is working on. So, I would advocate for regular meetings of progress. Thank you. Thank you, member Molar. Any other discussion? All right. Yes, sir. I just wanted to say uh thank you for inviting me for this is my first meeting, but uh um lot to learn. I agree with uh Miss Molner here. Um every other month, first Friday, whatever it is. Um if I could ask closer to 11 o'clock. Thank you. No problem. And that's the thing of uh timing as so to in order to not make any ha you know rash decisions as far as timing um I think we need to convene look at our schedules and see what would be u most
100feasible that we can convene together um to discuss this because I think this was a great meeting and um we have some uh great points uh to look into and to everyone's point we know we need to get back into this setting quick sooner than later and so that is the expectation that's without question uh that we will uh convene sooner than later. So, we've heard the suggestion of the every other month and it seems like um people are kind of resolved around that. But again, the superintendent is going to look to some things and then we'll have um some updates sooner uh than later and if not then that's you know some decisions will be made. Remember Harrison it looked like you wanted to say something. You know you always trying to say something
101respectfully. All right. If nothing else, um we stand to adjourn the um as we get ready to Is there a motion to adjurnn? So move. Second. It's it's been moved by uh Vice President Alexander, seconded by Mayor Malik. Any discussion? Rick. Sec. Um, it needs to be sec. Thank you, Superintendent. Could we could we adjourn for the joint board of review and then the board can adjourn separately? We we can do that. Mayor, so we're going to adj So, we're adjourning from the joint board of reviews. Thank you for that. And so was uh we stand it was moved by Alexander, seconded by the mayor for the joint border review. Is that what we're saying? Okay. Thank you. We stand adjourn JBR. And then now we're going to adjourn for our regular board meeting. Is
102there a motion to adjourn for our special board meeting? So moved. It's been moved by member Alexander. Is there a second? It's been second by member Harrison. Any discussion? Seeing any hearing none, we stand adjourned at 11:29. [Music]