Fremont City Schools Board of Education Meeting - February 23, 2026

001Oh, hey. All right, we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order before we all stand for the pledge. Um, we have two students that are going to lead us in the pledge tonight. We have Jacob Eisenhower and Jace Mistler. They're both in fifth grade at Atinson and they're both with the Men with Manners Club. Um I know that program has started off with Mr. Ward there. It's been there a number of years. It's a great program for uh boys to get involved. You can see they're dressed up very nicely. They have their nice ties on. They look very nice for us tonight. Very professional. Um, I know men with manners do different things around the school, so it's great to start getting kids acclimated to community service and helping out and stuff. So, that's

002a good thing to have. So, we're going to have them lead us in the pledge. So, if we could all stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. I pledge of 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. All right. Thank you gentlemen for coming in. Lead us with the pledge. Uh, roll call please. >> Mrs. Bloom here. Miss Layman >> here. >> Miss Lewis here. Mr. Nelly here. >> Mr. Price >> here. Can I get a motion to approve the minutes from our regular meeting? uh the organizational meeting and the regular meeting. >> What? >> Wait, we didn't have >> this just supposed to be the regular meeting. >> Okay, I change this. >>

003I will make a note in the minutes to take that okay >> part out. >> And I have a motion to approve the minutes from our regular meeting held on February 9th, 2026, please. I'll >> move. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Layman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. M Bloom. >> Yes. Miss Lewis, >> yes. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> I will abstain since I was absent. So, uh, but motion's approved. >> All right. Moving on to our legislative report. Don. >> Uh, yes. Uh, several different things uh this evening. Just wanted to mention a a couple of the we had our monthly legislative liaison Zoom meeting today at noon. So, I picked up on

004a couple of the bills that they talked about a little bit. Um, one was the House Bill 462, which deals with the EP pens. Um, they're trying to change the legislation on that. Um, just right now kids are allowed to have the EpiPen with them as I understand it. And there's a new nasal type spray for EpiPen instead of an EpiPen using the nasal type spray. and legislation needs to be changed to allow for kids to have or carry those. Um, House Bill 455, they called the omni omni omnibus bill. Uh and basically what I got out of that was uh it's kind of to get rid of obsolete provisions that are u requirements or laws and kind of looking at some of those things. So uh who knows what's going to be thrown into

005that package. Um, and then I believe it was House Bill 19 that uh was dealing with mathematics and they're talking about achievement to talk about compliance and but it sounds like there's still a lot of debate as to what's going to what that's going to entail. uh will um one of the comments was uh will it be an initiative of the governor uh and I guess he has his state of the state address later this week and they're kind of wondering if that'll come out at that time and so you know we'll kind of see that. Also, um the legislature is gearing up a capital budget. Um they're getting obviously this is a time when legislators and individual entities are submitting for um uh to be part of the capital dollars. Um, and so, uh,

006those those requests are due by March 12th. So, um, like I said, entities are scrambling to get those in. Um, the other thing I wanted to kind of hit on this evening, one, uh, dealt with, uh, property tax. Uh, we all know that there's that initiative out there um looking at getting rid of property tax and I was able to from that meeting today. It was really good cuz I had brought this had this down to talk about but I obtained a copy of the uh Keith um Kimberly Miriac I think is how you pronounce it. who's the director of the office of budget and management for the state of Ohio. uh who basically came out and said and has put together a um a two or three page uh letter uh just kind of

007saying that if if um the If if something like property taxes were eliminated, um it it's just not feasible to look at um sales and income tax to replace that. Um there were how many um we don't realize how many billions of dollars are involved. For example, um I think it was 41 billion dollars a year is what property tax throughout our state uh brings in to local entities. And that is about the same size as our current sales and income taxes to the state. So you're basically saying, let's eliminate that half, then figure out between those other two taxes, how do you replace that? and uh you know so so there's I I think people in general right now um need to understand that uh and and and again like I've said at previous

008meetings need to kind of educate themselves uh on that I had someone uh who uh a friend of mine actually who uh said Hey, I just signed this uh getting rid of property taxes. And I said, you know, uh I I said a few not nice words to him first and and then I I kind of said, do you understand if that is changed, how does that affect us? you know, that takes away all the that portion of property taxes that go to schools or uh you know, in the townships where it supports their local entity and fire and security and and and their roads. So, so there's a a lot of pieces with that. Um but the comment uh was further that you know well nothing's been done 1992 when uh things were deemed

009unconstitutional and actually was 92 is kind of when things got started on that discussion but 97 I think is when uh the Ralph uh was actually put into place and and we we did see as local schools, there was this uptick in dollars to the schools because the the uh state is mandated to support our public schools based on our constitution. and and kind of what uh happened was, you know, the comment was nothing's happened since then. And I and I kind of said, you know, there has been progress or had been progress. The fair school funding plan may not have been perfect, but it was heading in the right direction. and it was providing those dollars and uh you know that that's one of those areas that we need to kind of be aware

010of that we have made progress right now. It seems like things might be going backwards a little bit even though the legislature is saying okay you know we've cut you here but we'll give you a little more here. um you know those dollars can go away. And you know that kind of leads into that that uh uh well one more comment on that is back when in the '9s our funding to the funding toward public education was in that 40ome range and and a lot of it had to do with that lawsuit. Well, now uh what we're seeing is actually the support for public schools is down to around 29%. Is um well, and that's and I and I'm using that number based on the information that we receive from our treasurer and that she'll

011talk about I'm sure a little bit more later this evening. Um, so you can see that that support has gone down. where do those dollars go? You know, and that kind of leads me into that uh the uh voucher system and looking at how many dollars are pulled off of the education line item for um vouchers and those programs that are really not fitting into our constitution. Um so I I just wanted to kind of talk that out a little bit to you. There was some discussion uh today. Uh my question with uh our Zoom was how are the other legislative liaison in the state presenting this information and uh to their public and and there were several different uh one of the areas that um that I liked was there's an entity that one

012of one of the school districts who that was had put together some information uh on how to voice your opinion, how to do testimony um you know with the the state legislature when their issues come up. So I I saw some some Denise in terms of you know wheels for direction with that if they felt strongly onion is very similar to Kentucky and the Kentucky uh Supreme Court just um uh situation with um funding for vouchers was deemed It's a matter of who's going to enforce that because if we've been deemed unconstitutional since the '9s, you know, and the legislature has ignored it. Anybody had any input on that, but um just wanted to share long- winded. I'm sorry. >> But good information though. I've just thought like one avenue to get more because I

013know schools are supposed to get a portion of it. Can't they raise that? I mean, I think that maybe that would be hoping that they would they've thought about at least, you know, I don't know how that ties in, but >> Mhm. >> or exactly how they even distribute it. I don't know. There's a lot of money that goes into lotteryies in Ohio. I mean, online betting on down the line, right? It's >> so out there right now. >> Yeah. I I'm not I I do not know how much money comes back to the schools now either. >> It's a very small percentage then. >> That's what I'm saying. So maybe if they >> when you see it on a pie chart, it's basically like a pimple. >> Well, okay. So we're So that's what

014it is. Maybe they can sit down and say, "Hey, >> why doesn't some more of this money go to the school?" That would make >> Well, if you're going to sit down and brainstorm >> Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. >> I I agree. I I >> think the the lobbying would be strong for the other way, you know, but you know, but ideas are needed and uh you know, we just have to kind of filter those to our legislatures. >> Okay. All right. Thanks, Don. Um, no walk-on items tonight. >> No, sir. >> No one here from the community to address the board. So, we will move on to the superintendent report. >> Fantastic. Thank you, Mr. Price. Good evening, board members. Um, this evening is one of our work sessions and so I have invited

015um the high school principal, Mr. Ryan Norris, to join us um to give us a little glimpse into Ross High School. If you remember at the beginning of um the school year, we decided for our work sessions that we would find ways to blend um and give some lens not only for you but for also all of our viewers at home um a glimpse and a connection between our strategic plan and the actions and work in our buildings. Um so this evening I would just like to draw you um in front of Mr. Norris's presentation just draw you to our compo core component of um students. We educate students. So our strategic objective in our uh three-year strategic plan is that we will provide opportunities that allow all students to manifest their potential by encouraging

016leadership, innovative choices, and perseverance. Um you will see in a minute when Mr. Norris comes to the podium. Um one way that um he is providing opportunity for choices amongst his student population and giving them opportunity to persevere and to have practice in that area. So Mr. Norris, if you would join us, please. Um he has a wonderful presentation for you this evening that will give you some very good information, very timely. Well, thank you for inviting me tonight and coming here to talk about a positive and a changing thing that has been really good at the high school. And this is the topic that you're going to be hearing about tonight. You're going to be really this is what you brought as a positive thing that is happening at Ross. But I do want

017to talk about tonight the implementing Ohio's new cell phone law at Ross. the progress and impact that we've been seeing since we came back after Christmas break. So, tonight, yeah, I would like to share the transition to the Ohio's new cell phone law. It um it changed from instructional time to instructional day and we'll kind of go through how I was able to get the results that we're seeing right now. So, purpose of the policy. Um, one one thing as I continue on this jour journey now, I'm a year and a half in at Ross as the principal. I I don't ever want to do anything just for compliance. I really don't. I want to do things that going to strengthen our school, our community, our kids in the building. So, one of the things

018with this, I mean, we wanted to approach this as something we're going to strengthen time in the classroom, the relationships between our staff, our students, and the students, the students, and also the learning environment in general. Um, obviously, we did have to align with the new state law. Um, and it was different. Um, it's one of those ones that you look at, they don't start at the beginning of the school year, they started it at the halfway point. So, we had to make sure we had communication the right way. Um, obviously being at the high school, we want to support the academic focus and to us, if we're taking the cell phones completely away, we're going to have more focus in the classroom and better engagement, which the next one, yeah, improve student engagement and

019also strengthen our school culture. And so far, we have seen all of these. One of the ways that um we've made this as positive as what we have is transparent communication from this plan from the get-go this year. Um I was asking the kids because they did hear, "Hey, what are we going to do? We're doing this now." They thought we were bringing the yonder p yonder pouches right from the get-go. And I told them we're going to hold off. I mean, right now they're saying January of 26. And I was very honest with the kids. I'm like, you never know what's going to happen in the state of Ohio. You don't know if things are going to change because things change rapidly sometimes. And this is one of those I didn't want to have

020to possibly go out and spend a lot of money or come up with this whole plan. Then by the time we actually get to January, it's not even there anymore. We can just keep doing status quo. Um, but things stayed and I as I we got closer to Thanksgiving and everything, I started telling them, hey, I don't see things changing. I'm going to have a plan. And once again, they came back, oh, we get in the yonder pouches. I'm like, we're not going to get the yonder pouches. So, um, one of the main things communicated early expectations. Um, like I said, I was talking to the parents. I'd see people in the stores. I mean, it was just out there. I wasn't hiding that we're going to have to make a drastic change from what

021these kids are used to doing. um sent messages to the parents and the staff and students getting the message out there getting I mean I talked beginning of the year to my staff about this possible change that's going to be coming and why we're not doing it until January. Um explain the why. I mean that's the biggest thing. Explain the why. Job force business. That's one of the big driving points for this one. They need everybody to understand there's a time and a place. So we really tried to hit that hard. Um reviewed the procedures repeatedly. Like I said, it was a broken record. Um especially once I finally nailed down exactly how I wanted things to go. It just started coming out and um it's worked out quite nicely. Answer questions openly. Um like

022I said, didn't didn't hide behind the well maybe this maybe. Like I said, once we once we knew where we were heading, we were just telling anybody and everybody they wanted to know other school districts. I told them this is how I'm going to do it. Um main thing with all that, we didn't want any surprises. surprises is where you get phone calls and all of you get um phone calls and emails about what are we doing. So we I tried to be like I said as open as possible um intentionally sent out parent square invites, emails, everything was out there so everybody knew what was coming. I didn't want anything to be unclear or them to feel like something was sudden. So that was one of the top priorities as we move forward with

023this. The implicate implementation um approach consistency has been key. Um our students have responded they've responded best this year and even last year when I first got here if I put my expectations out there and we were very consistent with it. They have rose to the challenge. So we we were tried to make sure that everything was unified across the board. We were modeling ourselves like even going down if I know um and the other assistant principles we are really trying to model ourselves that if somebody needs to get a hold of us they can radio us. We're trying not to have our phones out because same thing even if we know we're going to be getting a call or a message or something we will try to have somebody come and get us call

024the office first and then they'll come get us. So, we're really trying to model in the building from the adults what we are expecting out of the kids. And that was one of the things that some of the students brought up to our attention also is, well, what about the adults? And it's very easy to say, well, the law is not written for the adults, it's written for you. But we told them, we're going to model this as best as we can. There may be times that yes, there's something going on in the district and we're going to have to have our phone. You're going to see us on our phone, but that's going to be job purpose only. So I think building wise we have done a very very good job of modeling what

025our students need to be doing and I think that has helped also um consistent expectations across the building kind of what I just talked about um staff support and alignment one thing that I preach to my building we are as strong as our weakest link so if everybody's doing about the same thing the same messages every classroom then the chance of something being successful goes up dramatically So, we've really tried to do that to the best of we can and then focus on the teaching expectations rather than the punishment. Um, yes, with this came new discipline or the cell phones just because it's a law. It's a change. If we didn't put a little more backbone in it, they're oh well, I I get a warning. We we had to up that just because of

026what we were having to implement. And um once again, that was out there very early. all that communication out exactly what the discipline was going to be. I mean, there was no secrets left to anybody in the community. If they looked at any of their parent squares or their emails that were coming from us, we we told them exactly what was going to be coming. And um like I said, I've been very very happy with how things have been. And this is who I'm the most happy with is the student response to this. I mean, we are taking away something that they I mean, I don't care where you're at. if you're in the store on walking down the side. I mean, people are on their cell phones all the time. And our students have,

027they deserve a ton of credit on this. They have adapted quickly and they've showed maturity and how to handle a change. Um, have they all liked it? Absolutely not. Um, but they have made comments like, "Wow, I'm glad that we are being forced off of these. We didn't realize how much we were actually on these. Um, one I do need to reach out to transportation and just say, "Hey, are the buses quieter?" Because they're trying to catch up on all their streaks and all their messages they get and what they have to do that they're doing throughout the days in the hallways or at lunch. Um, but they they have definitely shown a huge very high level of cooperation with us. Um, a lot of people that I talk to, parents wise and stuff, they're

028like, "Oh, are you ready for the headache coming?" I'm just like, "Hey, we they know what's coming." And, um, I've been very happy with the response of our students with this. Um, they've been very respectful. I know I have the word compliance up here, but it's kind of like that. I mean, in a job, you're not going to like everything that's going on in your job, but sometimes you have to be compliance to be able to keep that job. And I think they've been very respectful when we've had to talk to the kids, um, when we've had to deal with some of them. Um really overall for the size of building we have we've had few discipline concerns. I mean they they're doing a good job. Um they even asked so do we have to

029turn into the attendance office and I was like if you have a car and you want to keep it in your car I'm not searching for it but if we see it we're going to deal with it. Um and and they've done a very good job. Do do I think everybody's turned it in or put in their locker? No. But we're not seeing them. And that that to me that's one of the biggest things. they are doing what we're asking them to do. Um, and the students, they did adjust really quick. Um, I really, I'm not going to lie, I really thought the first couple weeks, just like with any new initiative, the first couple weeks were going to be a huge headache. And, um, they really weren't. We were all very, very happy with

030how well the kids responded to this change, cultural impact that we're seeing. This is one of the biggest differences um that they've had to deal with social connection. Um students are interacting more naturally with each other again. So kind of like when we were all in school um there were no cell phones. I mean you you had the old school handwritten notes. Haven't haven't found too many of those. But I have heard that some teachers are seeing kids writing notes again which is to me it's hey they're writing. We're good. Um >> I can show them how to fold. I was going to say we need to teach Mark Taylor. >> I'm going to get into that too here. But um but they are interacting more. I mean you're going down the hallway now and

031I know Mrs. Herd has seen this. You don't know if they're going to look up in time or they're going to run into you. You actually see faces walking down the hallway. You hear conversation. You hear laughing. It's been very nice. Um more peer-to-peer interaction, less of that isolation that those kids, they just everything is just on that cell phone. So, they're okay with not talking to anybody. They'll just sit there and they will just look down. They will not They're okay with not looking up. And we're getting out of that. You still have the ones that are still quiet. You always will, but they don't have that device to allow them to be so isolated. Um, and to me, right now, we're kind of getting more of that sense of stronger comm community within

032the building. So, that's just some of the things that we're seeing. So, what are the students doing instead? Th This right here has made me chuckle quite a bit. Um, we are playing games. I've seen Connect 4 at lunch. Um, we've had little mini board games coming in. Um, playing cards anywhere from Uno to actually the Uno Ultimate. The cheaters. I mean, it's Yeah, there's so many different types of Uno now. It's amazing. I did not know this. And then you have um like the game of war, just different card games going on. There's always cards going on at lunch. So if you ever come in during lunch, you're going to see card games. You can sit down and play some cards with the kids. Um the creating the old school triangle, the paper triangle

033football games. And they're sitting there flicking to the goalpost that's going on. Um they're talking more. I will say our our lunchroom is much louder, but it's a welcome ladder. Um because they're all talking. I mean, they they're either playing a game or they're talking to each other. Uh, we have origami going on. There actually is a Tik Tok challenge. I learned about this the other day. I had to add this one in. And there's like a tic tac. Well, this Tik Tok challenge is kind of interesting because obviously it's going on with no cell phones in schools. So, it's bring something random. So, I asked I'm like, "What does that mean?" So, you're supposed to bring something random from home, show it, but you have to keep a straight face. And I have seen

034that a couple times now. They're just this weird like okay. But um so they're doing challenges but it's an interactive it's a social type of challenge. So and there's a whole lot more books being read um during lunch um study hall because they can't just sit there on Netflix anymore. So they're bringing books in and doing things like that. So um the amount of headaches everybody thought I was going to have I'm hoping I'm not jinx jinxing myself either right now. >> It it could happen. But um they have done such a wonderful job and the the amount of things going on without those socially is absolutely amazing right now. Um it has been refreshing to see the students just rediscover the simple social interactions in games that do not involve screens. It it's it's

035been very good. key reasons I really think the clear expectations, consistent enforcement, strong communication, student buyin, and staff unity. Th those are the reasons right now I think why it's working so well at Ross with the amount of students that we have, the amount of staff. I mean, everybody has just come together. They knew it was coming and it's it's been very good. So, this change has been positive for our students and our school. It hasn't changed. It hasn't just changed behavior. It's strengthened engagement, relationships, and the overall learning environment. Thank you. Any questions? >> Happy to hear it, >> too. I'm glad they're talking to each other. >> Oh, they are. It's so loud in there now, which like I said, it's wonderful. the hallways. It's >> It's just nice seeing kids talk >>

036and getting that communication out because, you know, as they get older and they get out into jobs that they have to interview, they have to know how to look at people and they have to know how to communicate. >> That was one thing with just the devices in school, it took away. >> You you could see kids lunch table before January and they're having a conversation without looking up. They're texting each other at the same table. the conversation >> now they're doing that and um I I know it's crazy but actually that's what was going on. Um but in the hallways I mean I really try to find different different places to stand just to kind of see and um the teachers have done a good job. There's only been a handful and I'm really

037saying that right now handful that they they try to sneak their cell phone and then we'll get an email. Hey, so and so at this time Luke came, not sure who it was. They had their phone out and we'll bring them down. What are you doing? And then we >> deal with it and we go on from there. Um, study hall and stuff. I'll stand up on the upper part looking down at the commons and don't see anything. So, it it's wonderful. They they've done a very very good job. I mean, it's a huge shout out to the students and my staff, but we've um we we've done better than I think anybody expected >> us to do on this. >> I just like commend you and, you know, and how you've worked with your

038staff and having that very positive approach to this. That could be a a could have been a very negative >> Oh, it could have been a nightmare. uh yeah negative thing. So I again I commend you for you know working with your staff >> students and that environment. >> Thank you very much. I think the thing you you did really well um that you might have undersold just a tiny bit in your presentation um is definitely that right from the gate in the fall. >> Like as a parent in the district, parents were aware of what was coming down. My kid came home the first day of school and was like, "Mom, >> in January, here's what's going down." So like for our dinnertime conversation, you know what I mean, to be something that she

039heard directly, your directives through, you know what I mean, your teachers and your staff um has been clear from the first day of school. That's why I'm sitting here nodding emphatically when you're talking about everything because everything you said is exactly, you know, what happened. So your your leadership uh definitely plays a huge role um in how this rolled out. The the only one complaint that I would have is um while compliance at school is up, compliance at home is not I I >> because I got to make up for that last time at >> Oh yeah, trust me. When they're leaving, when they're leaving, you know, you know it's time to catch up. So yes, I I >> but I'll take that. >> I apologize but not apologize for the home part because it's

040going well at school. So >> that's that's my problem at home, but uh no job well done. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, I think one of the best examples is you were everybody's open and honest about it. >> So the kids saw that you weren't trying to hide anything and it's a good example for them that moving on when they're adults. Just be open and honest about a reasoning for something and it's going to work out fine. and you had buy in from the get-go. Y, >> you know, where if you try to >> sneak it in under the rug or something, kids know you're hiding something and then that causes issues and then they try to sneak. When you're open and honest, hey, we're open and honest. This is what's going to happen. Okay,

041at least I know what's coming if I decide not to do that. >> But yeah, great job. >> Thank you. >> Anything else? >> All right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Norris. I appreciate your time and sharing all of that good information with us. Um, and I just have one other thing and also has to do with Ross High School. Um, we did send an alert uh around 5:00 this evening. Just want to make sure that all of our parents of juniors and all of our junior students um tomorrow is their opportunity, their first opportunity this school year to take the ACT for free. If you remember that law changed a couple years ago and each school district needed to um organize an opportunity for our juniors to have access to that ACT. That

042test will take place tomorrow. We'll begin promptly at 7:30. And we need all of our juniors to come well rested. They're ready to do their very best with a fully charged Chromebook. >> Please make sure you charge your Chromebook this evening. Um just and I want to make sure and get that message out to all of our juniors um grade 11 students um just without having school today. We don't want to miss um we want to make sure that they are ready to go. So uh we did send an alert um made sure that we are communicating through parent square with our students and our families. But >> did they have to pre-register for that or is that >> they did and they did that through their classes. Um all of that work has been

043done um earlier in this school year. Um, and if by chance that we have a 11th grade student that may have thought that they weren't going, they weren't interested in taking us up on that offer of a free ACT. Um, there is another date coming. There's a redo. So, I would encourage them to make sure that they're speaking to Mr. Norris um and making sure that we get that information. Yes, sir. >> Oh, thank thank you. You are correct. I forgot about that. This is our first year to try um an online administration um for that. That's why they need those Chromebooks fully charged. So in the past we have administered that ACT as a paper pencil test. Um now that we are very fully onetoone at the high school level and our students are

044very comfortable on their Chromebooks. Um we're going to give that a go tomorrow. Thank you for reminding them. >> All right. Um I will continue Mr. Price if you're okay. Yep. Um I would ask your approval for item number one. Um just we have some donations that have come to the district. Um and and I would like to note uh all of our donations are always very generous and and very kind and we so appreciate them. Um but I would like to give a special recognition to Sunduski County Share and Care for their donation um to the district that is very sizable and um we will put that to very very good use. Can I get a motion to approve item one, please? >> Moved. >> Motion by Mrs. Bloom. Could I have a second?

045>> Second by Miss Lewis. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Bloom. >> Yes. >> Miss Lewis? >> Yes. >> Miss Layman? >> Yes. >> Mr. Nally? >> Yes. >> Mr. Price? >> Yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Um item number two, if you remember back to the beginning of the school year, we had um brought onto the agenda to purchase some buses. This is the second half of our installment for this year. So we would like to purchase three buses. One would be through our permanent improvement levy and two from general fund. Um and those will be purchased through our consortium so we get some better pricing. Um be able to bring that to you. >> I get a motion to approve item two, please. >> So move. Motion by Mr. Nally. Could

046I have a second? >> Second by Miss Layman. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Nally? >> Yes. >> Miss Layman? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bloom? Yes. Miss Lewis? >> Yes. >> Mr. Price? >> Yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Um I would ask that you provide approval for the second reading of our policies numbers um item number three through 7. I get a motion to approve items three through seven, please. I'll >> move. >> Motion by Miss Lewis. Do I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Lewis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Um item number eight begins our staff items this evening.

047Um we have some appointments. We have a resignation with Kimberly Meek. Um and just a note, this is one of those longtime uh staff members. Mrs. Meek has been employed with us since 1993. Um so many years of service in many different buildings and in many different roles and she has um she has served a lot of students in within Fremont City Schools. So, one one to note for sure. Um, some appointments new to our district, which we're always excited to see. Item number 10, um, we have some supplemental contracts that we would like to move forward with. Item number 11 and 12. Um we have some um stipens that are aligned for those teachers that do a little bit of those extra pieces and take those novice teachers from methods or student teaching and

048we attempt to give them those great experiences here in Fremont City Schools. >> Can I get a motion to approve items 8 through 12, please? >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Miss Lewis. Any discussion? Um, just Miss Kim Meek helped me. Um, she she is a historian of of sorts, the keeper of record, if you will. Um, I was seeking a grade school class picture from the 80s and for um, a friend of mine's family who passed away. Um, and I had put out a Facebook post like on some of the, you know, hey, I'm seeking this picture from this year or whatever. She saw it on one of the posts. She hopped on the email and contacted me, um, and said, "Uh, boom, I found it. How

049can I get it to you?" >> Tears, everything. I mean, like, it was it was wonderful. So, she was very helpful without even being asked. She answered a a call like just just kind of randomly. So, thank you to her and thank you for her service. >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Miss Lewis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's >> moving on to report of the treasure. >> Good evening. I have quite a few items for me. probably double more than normal. Um I think I took up about 75% of the agenda tonight and Mr. Price asked. So I just thought I'd clarify yes, we need all of that language in that last item. That was not just me having

050fun with page filler. So I out of those four items, one is the January financial report. Not going to go too in depth into that just because the forecast that's on is based pretty heavily off of those January numbers as that's the most recent month that's been closed out for this first forecast. So don't be shocked when the January forecast seems to be a little bit more glossed over, but I don't want to bore everybody by repeating similar information when I move into the five-year forecast. So, starting with the January, just to give you a quick overview on the January financials before I have it for approval, the revenue for January, some of our big items, the real estate tax looks like it's down for revenues. That's just merely a timing issue of when we

051got advances in January versus this time January last year versus this time January now. So I don't really see that that um decrease in revenue will hold for the rest of the time. But we will see the final re real estate collection in March from that um for the final real estate payments for this year. The tangible personal property is going to it looks very significant up. It's going to be carrying that for a while. But you saw that huge increase from the beginning of the year and it'll hold through the end of the year just because of that one-time repayment of the back taxes from our um Nexus. No. Yes. Nexus pipeline. Yes. >> So I just want to highlight that while it looks like it's largely up, it's just because of that payment.

052And then as we look at, sorry, um the Medicaid Oh, it's showing in a different line, but we also have some of the revenue that's showing up higher, and it just has to do with receiving larger onetime payments from amounts owed versus last year to this year. state funding is down. Um I wanted to highlight that. I'll go into that more in the forecast, but it is um trending down for us this year than last year. We look at the expenses we have. You'll see some huge increases in the equipment that has to do with bus purchases. you'll look and see that um our total budget for the year is quite a bit higher than last year and the percentage change is based on the current this year and the prior last year. So while

053our budget reflects that we knew we were going to make these purchases this year, um it's just showing the change from how much we spent last year versus this year. insurance costs are up in our fringe benefit line. Um, if you remember back at the end of the fiscal year last year, we had to flow extra money from general fund into our insurance fund. So, when we set insurance rates for this year, we did it a little bit higher and that cost the district more as well in the employee. So, in our fringe benefits line, you'll see it's up about 12% and a lot of that has to do with our um district portion of our insurance rates for employees, like our health benefits. There we go. So, that's just a quick overview of the

054month of January. Um, before we dive into the 5-year forecast, is there any questions on the January financials? >> I see under expenses, um, you have a thing, a note for us that just in the first half, we've spent nearly $30,000 just on CCP textbooks. Mhm. >> How does Can you and I get the College Credit Plus program and and we pay a discounted rate per credit hour and stuff, but is there any that's the word I'm looking for? Um, we just have to pay for those textbooks. I mean, it's just as simple as that. If a student decides to go CCP, we're paying the cost of that textbook every time. >> Every time. Um and we are also um it it is our role to align with the colleges and universities as to how

055they provide textbooks to their students. So if you remember a couple years back um when we switched from that PSO to um CCP and we made some of those changes, a lot of our locales and universities were actually using tangible textbooks. Um, and so the district would need to purchase the textbook for that student. And then we started keeping those textbooks. And I actually in the curriculum department, we actually had a um library of sorts because we would keep the books and then we would reissue it next semester to another student that was going to take that class. So we didn't have to repurchase it. >> Um, so that was a way that we were finding within the district to save some dollars. Um majority of our local colleges and universities no longer use a

056tangible book. Um many of them are using ebooks. Um where students need to have access to those. So we have to purchase the code for the student to utilize and then they utilize that code for the semester and they have access to their book and then at the end of the semester that code um dissolves and then when the next student wants to take the class we will need to repurchase that. Um >> so we're paying $30,000 for codes >> some some we also pay for credit hour. Um there is still a tiered system within the state of Ohio. Um for CCP, we pay a little bit more for our students that um attend that college level course at the university with the university's professor. Um, we pay a little bit less if they attend

057that college level course in our house with the college professor and we pay the least amount when they are taking that college level course in our house with one of our staff members who are certified that the university has said they fit the bill and they can provide that college level credit. We do have a variety of all of that going on in our district. Um, and I would just remind us from the district perspective, DCP is an amazing opportunity for our families and our students. It is free opportunity of college credit for our students and our families benefit. Unfortunately, the district does not in that aspect, >> right? It's for >> somebody has to pay for it, right? >> Parents don't, the families don't. That's a wonderful opportunity for them, but the districts are

058paying in order for their families to be able to. So, >> so just a side note for our families to understand because Fremont City Schools picks that up and it is my daughter is benefiting from that. >> It's fantastic. >> You know, absolutely. But to understand when someone wants to complain that we are wasting money or that we get too much money from the state. Um I think some of your kids have benefited and some have graduated with an associates degree >> all on the dime of Fremont City Schools. I mean that's just a fair way to say it and it's it's pretty black and white. I mean, we're paying $30,000 for textbooks or codes for textbooks in for CCP in the first half. I I mean, that's, you know, just make sure that as

059your child benefits from that that you give a fair shake to the school district that is flipping the bill for that. So, and understand that that has to come out of our money that yes, we do get from taxes. I understand that. However, there are kids getting some college level courses when they are a freshman in high school. >> Absolutely. >> And it is helping them and that family is like me. I will save money when my daughter goes off to college >> and paying that full price that she doesn't have to be there for years. >> Correct. >> So, it is still benefiting me even though Fremont schools picked up the bill while she was in high school. >> It's free for our families and our students. It is not unfortunately free. I like

060how you got you both work together to make that make that come. >> She says it very nice. >> I say it a different way sometimes. >> Okay. No, I just saw that note. I'm like $3,000. Wow. >> You think that's high? That's cute. >> Yeah. >> Um we we've had years that we've had years where that number has been higher. >> And I get it. And I mean, when you look at the cost of a textbook anymore, it's ridiculous. I would think >> I get it. It's a money maker for, and I'm not saying the colleges are are doing this, but someone is making money off of online textbooks. No, >> that are just sitting there >> that could be accessed that you would think >> if I get it for comp one at

061a college level, I should be able to have that on my >> server or whatever forever and a day until we decide not to use that and it should be free of charge for anybody. But I mean, come on. I know. >> Adorable. Love that. >> I know. That's super naive of me to think that somebody doesn't look at it as a money thing instead of an educational thing. College textbooks has always been such a record. So, >> it is. Yeah. An expensive book. Especially when you see who prints it and it's amazing. >> Yeah. >> I definitely had some college books that served more as a door holder opener than and it wasn't because of my effort. Like, we had to get these books and then we didn't even use them. So, >> I

062think I had a four or $500 book that I used more as a stairst step than in context. Yeah. >> Yeah. I >> think I we used like one chapter out of the whole thing and I was not a happy camper. >> And you got to sell it back for like 50 bucks or something. >> Oh, no. They weren't using that edition anymore, so we couldn't sell it back. So, I still have Well, I probably don't have it anymore, but it came home with me. >> Right. Sorry to throw you off on a tangent there. >> Okay. So, on our five-year forecast, it's beautiful, wonderful, full of very um hard fast numbers that I truly think we'll see over the next years. If you did not recognize that as sarcasm, that was highly sarcastic. Um,

063yes, I put a lot of time and effort into these numbers. They are best guesses as to our current state of where our revenue is coming from. and how much of that revenue. >> I have simulations from our professional groups that we've based this off of, but it is a educated guess. I say that usually with my 5-year forecast, but I can't stress this now with all the different legislation coming through that's changing where our revenues are coming from, how they're coming from, and all of that. in the time when you have to report this. >> Yes, >> you're reporting it before collections have taken place. And >> so I don't even know normally when we will we would have the 5-year forecast due is the end of May. We would have four quarters of

064um income tax collections. We would have all of our real estate collections done for the fiscal year. I could estimate revenues a lot closer. We haven't, as I've reported out in January, we have only gotten one advance from the second collection of this year. So, yeah, I have estimates of where that looks like it's going to fall, but you never truly know. So, I just kind of wanted to give that little warning before we go and you look at the forecast and go, "Oh my gosh, Megan, your revenues are not going up. They're hardly moving." Yes, we had to be as conservative as possible when I looked at those numbers. There's a couple areas where our revenues are actually declining due to current trends. If you look at interest income, we are currently for let's

065start with if we look at the first column with the actual of last year's, we had $1.3 million of interest income. By the end of the forecast, I'm only projecting 900,000. And that's just due to the decline of our investment um interest capabilities as the district. Our anybody with a savings account, those interest rates are going down again. They were trending up for a while and we were able to benefit from that, but now they're going back down. The investments the district holds are the same thing. We're having to change our targets from short-term to long-term, see what we can um utilize to the best for the district. But I am projecting that we will see a decline in interest over the next couple of years. Couple of the other areas, um, state funding. I

066have actually kept that flat just because I can't tell you what that's going to do. As Mr. Nally said, the state has been, you know, from that de Roth case, they were supposed to be, the state was supposed to be pitching in more. There is a calculation that due to your public or your um local tax share if it goes up the state funding decreases. So we are actually projecting down not due to legislation totally but due to that um calculation coming into play. So the state funding and then there's also current legislation out there that we're going to see they've projected us to see a million less in state funding. So we've really had to keep that number as best guess as I can give you. So, um, you are going to see that

067it projects down from what's forecasted this year versus what we collected last year. And then I just kept it flat for the following years. Sure. I'm look at my notes real quick. >> M, under the revenues, the other receipts and state, is that grant funding? Is that >> That is not grant funding. This is justeneral our general fund. Grant funding would throw into another >> um category. This would be I'm trying to think of the best way. Just all of our um different trying to think of the best way to explain it. There's different things that aren't calculated into state funding that we get. Um trying to see if I can pull up an example real quick. >> No, cuz I think that comes in that's with statement. Yeah. So, there's just a couple other

068areas I'll get in. I'll find the answer to that and get it to you just because I don't want to misspeak and then be like, "Oh, no, that's actually in another line." >> Um, but I'll pull that line out and then get that answer for you. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Yep. And then also you'll see that the forecasted column that it's very dark. I did not print in color cuz I don't condone people that print in color. Um, so my version is black. Um, but the federal revenue slash that is our Medicaid income. And you'll see last year's was 14,000. This year's is 335,000 and then you'll see on the forecast is 35,000 going out. So every year we have a Medicaid almost like a trueup process. They go through all of

069our claims and see if the state has paid us everything they should. Um, and the pre the previous one, I think it was our fiscal 23, maybe 24, they found that they owed us almost $300,000 more. So, this year we got quite a bit of additional Medicaid money. I know. I'm just glad I don't have to pay that bill. So the Medicaid process is a really interesting process and it fluctuates so much every year how much they pay us versus what they find when they do this trip process and it's about a year or two in a rears. Um and we usually get it in July or August. So that number fluctuates so much. So I kind of looked at what we've gotten in the past couple years. This year is abnormally high, but I've

070also I think the first year I was here it was like 180,000. So, it really does fluctuate, but when that true up happens, it could really go either way. >> Yeah. We could end up owing them. >> Yeah. >> And that's always like >> we're happy that this time they're paying us. >> Yeah. So we have to have a a fund in the fund just in case like who I'll I'll ask those questions later. Who audits that process and how does >> there is a so we pay for a fully separate Medicaid audit. It's done by an independent audit company and then it's we work with HBC is our Medicaid billing processor. So between our audit, HBC and the information that student services and I provide, they go through and find out how much we

071should have actually been owed versus what they paid us. >> This is based on student population and different demographic things that >> billable hours, all of that fun stuff. So there's there's actually quite a substantial amount of staff that um are instrumental in making sure that they have uh very clean documentation um fulfilling all of those requirements and communicating all of those billing billable um opportunities for therapies and things that we do provide in the district. >> Yeah. And it I really do a lot of districts I've heard have harder time getting their staff to provide this Medicaid because it's a lot of extra work for them to input all of this stuff and we truly do benefit from that. So I do thank them all for putting in the extra time and effort. Um,

072and we get reports throughout the year of different things if we're missing um, different important pieces that they need for this to um, be trying to think of not like if you don't have certain things filled out, they it's not billable then. So, Gina gets a list every month from HPC that says, "Hey, this doesn't have a signature. Hey, this doesn't have this person's not putting in any hours and they put in hours last year and so they really do stay on top of us for those claims. >> Okay, >> so some other things I wanted to highlight. Yes, you will see the overall for the forecast we start out pretty strong um for the fiscal 25 or for fiscal 26. Fiscal 27 we're still doing pretty good, not anywhere near as good. And then

073you'll see fiscal 28 we start to hit deficit spending which is very early on in the forecast for us. But that really has to do with me keeping revenues so stagnant and pretty similar to what they have been over the last couple of years and not showing too much of an increase in those lines. Do I necessarily think that that will be the case? Hopefully not. But I can't I I couldn't produce this on wishes and hopes and dreams. Mhm. >> As much as I would love to not see us hit deficit spending in fiscal 27 or fiscal 28 just where I see the comfortable hitting revenues, that's where we start seeing that deficit spending and then it keeps growing as we go out further into the forecast. When if and when this actually happens,

074we can also re-evaluate some of the purchases that we have planned in those expense areas >> and maybe incre or not increase decrease some of those areas. And I don't mean staffing. I don't want anybody to think that that's where I'm going with this. >> We're not buying buses and uh >> Exactly. Thank you. Yes. >> Have communications jointly be able to keep those conversations open. Sure. >> Yeah. That would be more of what we would be looking at. There's also transfers out in the um last line of before the total expenditures. Those could also be backed off. >> Those are into our capital improve or capital project fund and our severance fund. If we truly see those revenues not coming out as high as we want to, we could back those off as well.

075So, there's some variables in here that we can actually have control over if we see it not going well and to keep that deficit spending out of our general fund. We can make some changes here and there just to keep our bottom line where we would like it to see. So yes, we are hitting deficit spending earlier than what we normally would, but that is something we will constantly keep an eye on in the next couple of years. >> And again, that's what makes it really scary with things like the property tax issues and >> um you know, and if the state is reducing our percentage of support. So, and just to clarify, predict or estimate, estimate is the definition of forecast. But when you know when you were kind of joking about that, it

076it's not an exact science. You're you're looking at the future and it just helps to plan for budget and dollars that you know that we need or will expend in the future. So the other that other line that I was talking about the equipment and capital purchases, that's where we would also be able to readjust the buses. Um, another line I want to highlight just because it looks like there's such a huge um, jump from this year to last year's purchase services. And we've had a couple things come up in the last year where we one of the bigger things would be our school of hope payments. They had been billing us at a very low rate because they had some help with other funds. We are now paying the full price for those services.

077So that's part of that really large increase in our if you look at that purchase services line, it's almost it's almost almost it's up almost a million well actually a little over a million dollars from this year to last year. So I just kind of wanted to say there's been some things that are not black and white as to what's going on. It's not that we're spending a million dollars more on any particular thing, but there's a couple areas where we've had some years where we didn't have to pay as much because they weren't charging us as as as much and now we're having to pay the full price and that really skyrocketed that purchase service area. So, sorry Sarah, I was looking at you. >> I'm like, "Yep, gotcha. So, I just really wanted

078to highlight we aren't there isn't any one particular thing in that line that's made it go up a million dollars. It's just we've had a couple different things that are coming in more expense. Every I mean, every contract we hold for outside services has gone up. That's just even from >> with everything else. I mean, >> everything just goes down. Yeah. It's gone up. So it's not just one thing, it is multiple things in that purchase service area. All right, I'm just reading through my notes real quick to make sure I'm hitting on everything. There's a couple other things in the house bills that have to do with the district state share. Um, like one of the other areas, they are counting our full valuation for funding purposes, but we won't actually receive it. And

079that's based on that how much of the local share we're receiving. The state cuts it back. >> Say that whole sentence one more time. The state counts our full valuation, but they don't pay on the full valuation due to the fact that they scale it back because of how much local share we're receiving with our real estate tax. So that's just another highlight of that. >> Had to say that slow for me. Like what? Sometimes I think I explain things better in my head because it makes sense and it doesn't. >> Just talk to us in layman's terms. >> He's like I am >> I am >> another area I want to talk about in our revenues. Um, so in 250 there's with our poverty funding that we received from the state of Ohio, they

080used to take it off of our um C >> C, sorry, CCP, CCIP, and CI. Weirdly enough, I get them mixed up. So I always look to Denise. I'm like, which one do I need to sign? cuz she's really good >> community eligibility program C. >> So they used to base our poverty funding on the numbers that they would receive from that of families stating what their income was and then um we would receive funding based on it. Excuse me. Now we have this process called direct certification where with the state where they automatically identify and then we are able to um >> identify our families that qualify with the district being 100 going 100% for D purposes for this breakfastes and breakfast and lunches that high that really inflated that area for the district.

081So the state went, "Oh, we really can't use that number." Because if they're saying 100% and then we're picking up the tab for those kiddos that aren't directly identified as poverty kids, they have to they had to relook at where they're pulling those numbers from. So we because we're saying 100% of our families are but it they're not >> because we provide for 100% of our families to have breakfast and lunch. >> Heard I was like what kind of >> but truly 100% of our families would qualify in that. So now there's >> there's a difference there's a disconnect there. So similar to previous conversation, >> right? >> Free for all. very excited for that um opportunity, that offering, but there are dollars attached to that at the local district level. That's the decision that

082we have made that um that we're going to produce those dollars to do that in order to have 100% of our families participate. >> So 100% minus direct certification equals bill. >> Yes. >> Okay. So that's a they're now looking at our funding for poverty at the direct certification numbers. So you're I think it was last year they based it off of our C numbers which were inflated and now this year they're looking at our direct search numbers. So we're looking at probably about a $250,000 decrease in funding which is appropriate. So that's just another >> scary >> yeah area of our revenues that we had to project down as well. As always for our a district our size our main expense drivers are our salaries, benefits and purchase services. We always watch that salary

083and benefits percentage. You'll see on the forecast it happens every time. As soon as that salary and benefits number creeps towards 80%, that's when we hit deficit spending. You'll see we're at 74% in fiscal 27. Fiscal 28 we're at 77% and that's the year we hit deficit spending and then out the forecast um to 80 and 84%. So that's always been an indicator for us is that um salary and benefits percentage of revenue as to when we're going to tip into that deficit spending. Purchase services makes up 17%. And when you're in the people business, that's where your main drivers are going to be. There's no shock there. And in fact, we always hover right in that >> high 60s to 80% category. >> I mean, any business I mean any business you have, whether

084you own a local business or >> producing something. Yeah. >> Yeah. You're always going to have >> you need people to do the job and you have to take care of them and services to do whatever the job is. M um in the forecast for salary and wages, we used our negotiated agreements that we currently have in place to project out those salaries. We take into consideration potential retirements of higher paid employees versus bringing on new hires. That would be less. But again, we don't count on that. So, we use more of a median between the two. And then there's also staff step increases that get factored into that as well as they move up the salary schedule. So all that plays factors into how much is forecasted for salary and wages. Benefits, you're going

085to see that's projected to increase quite a bit as well, about a million dollars each year roughly. Um, and everybody's seeing medical costs go up, so we can't ignore that indicator either. So, we will keep projecting that up. Even though we see a slight decline in our enrollment, our special education is increasing. So we also had to take that into consideration with our purchase services for the additional cost of our kiddos and in our salary and wages because you know we have to provide services to the kids and unfortunately it is a higher cost. So, we do keep that in our or I keep that in my brain as I'm getting those expenses >> and that that trend, if I say that, is a new norm at some level. >> Yes. Yes. >> It's we're

086seeing a lot more kiddos being identified. That's fair to say. >> Is that fair, Abby? I don't know. That's kind of what we're seeing just in our numbers. >> I don't know that I probably >> sure obligated to instruct and provide all the services that are necessary for all of our students. >> Absolutely. >> And we also, you know, ratios play into that of the students versus the teachers. So then we have to sometimes add more staff in to keep those ratios where they need to be. And >> I that's kind of more of what I was like that that whole formula of you know services child enrollment just kind of what that looks like. And >> just as a side note on that remember private schools community schools don't necessarily have to do that.

087So just wanted to toss that in there. >> Public schools do. We educate everyone who comes to our building. Absolutely. >> Yes, we do. >> However, if we're not a public school, we don't have to abide by those rules. So, >> sorry. >> Yep. Nope. That is very >> It's the season, Tom. >> This is the season. >> There's a whole lot. Columbus is finally back in action. Let's go. >> They got a whole big Christmas break. I tell you what. >> Yeah. And if you've read some emails, their legislation is just amazing that they're coming through. So, so that's just kind of some of the highlights for the next couple of years on the forecast. We do have projected in the capital equipment, some bust purchases over the next couple of years. We also

088are going to see increases in our utility bills, in our supplies. Everybody's seen an uptick in cost. So are we. We try to purchase through consortiums like we just approved tonight with the buses and different areas that where we feel that we can see some savings but not see a decline in quality. Keep that nice little healthy balance. >> So that was all taken into consideration as I was building these numbers out. Am I really happy that we are at a deficit spending of $4 million at the end? No. But um I'm not used to seeing that high of a number when I get to my forecast. But again, I really did have to keep those revenue estimates very conservative while, weirdly enough, I had a better I felt a lot better projecting expenses. >>

089Checks out. >> Yeah, >> I mean that makes sense. So hopefully we won't see as much of a downturn in our revenues is what it's or stagnantness in our revenues is what I'm projecting, but I just had to keep it with what I know. >> Well, the thing is it's a the way they're doing this now, it's a 4-year forecast based on three years worth of data, but it has to be projected out to five years. So, it's a fouryear based on three, but it's actually a five. >> Yeah. >> Have fun, >> right? >> Let's get it really precise. >> Nobody's going to be able to manage >> on a bills that just keep changing how our revenue comes in. And every time we get something new, I have new simulations of what our

090revenue is going to be. And weirdly enough, it never is projecting up. Now, I will say we're in a much better place than some other districts that are seeing a greater loss in revenues, but it is something I'm going to have to watch closely in the next coming years because losing $4 million out of our very conservative um fund balance is not where I want to be. So >> yeah, >> we start we're starting with about the first year of the forecast with a $10.2 million fund balance and then ending with a 3.5. And that it's a little scary to me. I mean, we're not out of money, so it's not as scary as I've seen some years be by the fifth year, but it's just something I really am going to have to watch

091because I don't want to really get close to that cuz a $3 million balance is not a good cushion for us. >> It'll all wash out. If not, we'll just start having car washes and everything. Well, we'll make that money back. >> Car washes. >> Don't worry. >> Can't afford the water bill. >> Okay. Megan will be looking for a new job. Yeah, if you see those numbers by then I'll be looking for a new treasure position. Um, >> so that's the general fund for the next couple of years. I just wanted to highlight some of our other funds. We talk about a lot of other services and on a board agenda we'll talk about expenditures that are not in the general fund. The five-year forecast is only our general fund. We also have the

092food service fund that we are currently at $1.5 million. Um, if you'll remember, we were in we were we are in a spendown plan for that federal fund with our full C being able to pay, you know, have free breakfast and lunches for our students. that fund is still doing good to um support that initiative of the districts and that's always something that we want to make sure it could do. >> It is staying afloat on its own and that's a good very good thing for our district. That capital fund 707 is our capital projects fund. We've been slowly saving for the future of our buildings. We have um all brand new buildings right now except for this beauty that I would love to say is brand new, but it's >> 13 years old now.

093>> Yeah. 13 years old. >> Time flies. >> Yeah. So, you know, if we need it's and it's starting to have some things that are major expenses for us. So, it's nice to have money that's not in our general fund that we have set aside to pay for when things start going bad. And unfortunately, it was great to build five new buildings all at once, but what does that mean when everything starts going out due to age, you're going to have five new buildings. So, it's nice that we have some money set aside for that purpose alone. >> It's not allowed to be used for other things. It is strictly for these capital buildings of ours. And and that's something that you've said consistently um for as long as I've been on the board. You

094know, we have five new buildings all at the same time. What if everybody's whatever goes out at the same time? And this is why this fund is like that. So, >> I want to make sure that if anybody listens to this, they understand, >> yes, we have some money set aside, but it is for legit real reasons. We want to be able to keep up and maintain our buildings and that the community has helped us build and we want them to be as great as they can be. So we are trying to plan for the future as best as we can >> earmarked for that purpose. >> Yes. >> I think that's if you're going to say that say that as well. >> Um so that people well if you got money there you can

095just move it here and do this and that's not >> how that goes. >> Right. We also have a permanent improvement fund that we get that is part of our um levy on for real estate taxes. We spend that as appropriately as we can on the board agenda tonight. One of the buses is going to be purchased from our permanent improvement fund rather than our um general fund. Again, just to keep that balance of things that we have some cash in some other areas, we want to keep the spend appropriate from the general fund versus the permanent improvement. We also have our bond fund, which helps pay our Sorry, I'm having the hiccups right now. Um, helps pay for our bond payments. It's almost kind of like your loan payment. We pay those in January

096and July of every year to the couple million dollar. So with our bond fund, we get payments from our real estate collections and then we and the county auditor every year looks at those what's the balances in our fund and how much they need to collect and they change the um mills a little bit just to make sure we're not collecting too much or we're not collecting not enough. So again, so that we can make those payments every year. It's an every year process that we're looking at that with a county auditor. I just kind of wanted to highlight that that is those are not just things we just go, okay, it's this amount is levied. There's actual homework that gets done with those to make sure that we're not overcolcting or underolcting. You know,

097we we kid around about the um four buildings at one time, but what people need to realize is the gamble was when we were going for the levy. We either go for the full package, pay for it over the course of time, or go and build one building, then two buildings. and to do that and go back to the community how many times to meet our needs is not sellable. So, you know, with doing the four buildings at once, we're and having the permanent improvement dollars >> and and planning for we can take care of those buildings, >> right? And you know, so like I said, I know we kid about it, but we really have a plan for taking care of those buildings in the future. >> And I I I think that's exactly

098what Megan was saying, like that funding there >> um is there for that reason. Um, and we talk about, you know, things going, >> you know, when you have one building to manage, you know what I mean? Yeah. >> It's a little different, but when you have five buildings all built at the same time, there could be a strong likelihood that uh >> I I'm going to say something that might not even be accurate, but a boiler goes out in every building. You know what I mean? At the same time, because they were built at the same time and they have the same I know we don't have boilers, whatever. Um, but they're built at the same time and their life >> their lifespan is the the same time. I I think that's what >>

099and the dollars are being put aside to take care of those situations. And >> I I think that's what Megan was was saying. >> Yep. Absolutely. >> We are regulated by those. Um, with it being an Ohio Facilities Council project, we do have to set aside part of our permanent improvement collections annually into it's called 034. >> Mhm. >> And that is our um, shoot, I'll say it wrong because I get it. um that is also set aside to take care of these buildings. But we actually use those for service contracts and things like that to again manage that what go comes out of um general fund versus what we use some of our other money set aside for. So there's a lot of different areas that we try to keep the general fund as

100you know healthy as possible by utilizing some other areas. But so and those other funds are highly regulated as what we can and cannot spend money out of. >> So those specialized areas, you know, we do utilize what we can to keep that general fund as healthy as possible. There any other questions or comments on the 5-year forecast? >> Just find more money. >> Simple as that. >> Yeah. It's always a fun task. Also, I have on here tonight the approval for accepting the amounts and rates determined by the budget commission. So, like I kind of started talking about during the forecast, we every year have to submit a budget to the county auditor's budget or not the county auditors to the budget commission which the county auditor sits on and we say, you know,

101this is what we're looking at expenditure-wise. So then they look at what our voted millages for our rates for the next year and what we need to collect and set those rates. So that's we did that back in January. we submitted for during the or right after the organizational meeting we had the tax budget um approval and now this is we've submitted that to the county budget commission and this is what they've come back with. So this is just that last step in that process >> and and they're what's coming back to us is they're analyzing >> valuations and that kind of thing >> and we're getting out of it what we what we expected. >> Yep. So, and then my last item is to um look or to have our bonds have a um

102reissuance then. And that takes up most of those pages that Mr. Price was giving me some flack about. >> Never do that. This is >> this is a very length or a very intense process for the district but we are looking at significant savings not only for the district but for our community as well. As I said in our about the forecast, every year the county auditor and I look at how much we need to make our bond pay bond repayments for and with getting them refinanced, we are looking at a savings that would help our taxpayers. We could save more money on how much we need for these bonds and that would help our community because we wouldn't have to collect as much. So now I will say some of these bond repayment schedules

103go out 30 some more years but there is a savings involved and we try to do that as much as possible not just for us but for our community. >> So >> kind of like a home refinance. >> Yeah. >> Interest rates go down. So I'm it's worth me refinancing even with the fees involved and it's going to save me money. >> Exactly. So we are looking at doing this I think they would like to finish the process up in April. So we without So we're starting the board approval process for this now. We've been watching it for the past year with interest rates falling on um bonds and we are finally at the projected estimation that we would like to see recommended of how much savings we would see for the district. I think

104that's finally my last item for tonight. Oh, I will note when I was scrolling through all these pages, there was some extra language that made it in the agenda that shouldn't have been on here. So, that will be taken out and reflected in the minutes. Um, there was like a certification. That's all for my stuff when I have to submit this to the county office. >> I was wondering about that. >> So, it will stop. There is a section 24 and it says the treasurer is directed to forward a certified copy of this resolution to the county auditors of Sunduski County, Ohio. That is the last thing on that will appear on the agenda. The rest of that um yeah that whole section is for me to actually submit to our county auditor. So that's

105being taken out and I will um end it for the minutes after that. section 24. So like all of all the way up to here. >> So section 24 is gone. >> Well, no, just this last section of section 24. Yep. >> So I just wanted to make note of that before um we move into the approvals. So with that m being said, Mr. face. You can go into >> Sure. >> Sorry. >> For item 13. >> Can I get approval for or can I get a motion to approve item 13 for the January financial report, please? So move. >> Motion by Miss Lewis. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Miss Lewis, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Mr.

106Nally, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's approved. Uh, next, can I get a motion to approve item 14, which is the I want to say five-year forecast, but it really isn't a five. >> It's the forecast. >> Yes. So, this >> Well, that's what the agenda >> motion to approve the forecast, please. >> So move. >> Motion by Mr. NI. Could I have a second? >> Second by Miss Layman. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. >> Miss Lewis, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's approved. >> Next. Uh, can I get a motion to approve item 15, which is the uh resolution accepting the amounts and rates determined? >> All moved. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I

107have a second? Second. >> Second by Mr. Nally. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. Ms. Lewis, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's approved. And the last one. Can I get a motion to approve item 16, which is the resolution for the issuance of the bonds, please? >> Move. >> Motion by Mrs. Bloomrad. Second. >> Second. Second by Miss Layman. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. Miss Layman, yes. >> Miss Lewis, >> yes. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motions, >> all these. >> Page 24 if you're wondering. >> And on to board member communications. Don, >> I have nothing this evening >> there. >> Um, it's almost the end of

108the third quarter coming up in a few weeks here. So, March 20th, I think, is the end of the third quarter. Um, spring sports are starting like this week. So, eligibility matters, people. Um, I am going to take just a little bit of time to give a shout out to all of our winter sports teams, but let's talk about these Lady Giants in all sports right now. Um, the Lady Giant Bowlers advanced to districts last week and they'll compete again on Wednesday. Um both the boys and girls swim teams made it to districts, but our Lady Giant diver Elena Gray will represent Ross at the state meet. Um this is the first time we've had a diver qualify since 2009. So congratulations to her. Um, also Logan Garza, he will represent the Little Giants uh,

109boys team at the state swim meet in the 100 meter breaststroke. Um, I know I said talk about the Lady Giants, but we got to talk about everybody. Um, the Lady Giants basketball team are the three NLLL Cardinal Division Champions. Uh, which I I think was pretty neat. Um, our freshman Bin Ward uh earned NLLL Cardinal Division Player of the Year. Uh, NLLL player of the year and District 6 all district first team honors. Uh, Sarai Omen earned all NLLL first team honors and district 6 all district second team honors and Charity Crow earned second team all LL honors. Um, I will pass the baton at some point to Mr. Price to talk about the Lady Giant wrestling team. I dare not uh steal that thunder, but we they have done some really really neat

110things here. Um, and then just kind of additionally with our winter sports, um, the Phantom toilet flushing is coming. Um, freshman Jake Cahill earned District 6 second team honors for basketball. Um, the basketball team is picking up some momentum right at the end. Um, but they beat the first place uh, Sylvania South View team 53 to 46 on Friday, snapping their 11game uh, winning streak, which was a a really good win uh, for for the boys. and they go into um their postseason starting Wednesday. Um on Thursday this week, if you want to hear some good band music, our high school band has a concert at 6:30 in the pack. Um, and our middle school, lastly, our middle school and high school orchestra uh will travel to Parisburg High School this this weekend. Um, to

111compete in the OMA state orchestra competition. Um, the high school will perform at 4:30 on Friday at Parisburg High School. Middle school will be at 9:30 on Saturday morning. But if you can't make it to Parisburg on Friday or Saturday, um tomorrow night they're giving a preview concert um at 6:30 to watch both of those orchestras in the pack. That's it. >> I had to type these out today cuz it's not getting it together. I'm a little yellow pad. Laura. >> Well, on February 12th, I had the privilege to, sorry, I'm losing my voice a little. I had the privilege to go to the high school and I was Abby took me around and we ran into Mr. Norris and just kind of going around the school. It was bright and early and they had

112um it was what was it? Enroll, enlist, and employ. They had like uh community businesses, colleges, military uh kind of set up in the gym and we were just in there strolling around and kids were not on cell phones so they were engaging in conversation. >> They not only with themselves but with the people that were set up the you know the community members that came here military all that they were and they were really interested in what was going on. I really thought it was nice and I was took some time to talk to the kids and some of the teachers just it was just a it was a good atmosphere to be in the middle of. So I enjoyed that and just visiting around the school and you know what was going on.

113The school was super clean. I mean I think all the schools are always kept in good shape. I mean I think we've brought this up before. It was it was nice. I I enjoy visiting schools. So, um, so Abby, thank you for taking the time to do that. And I'm looking forward to Friday. We're going to lots to see what uh the younger kids are getting into. So, I'll report back on that the next time to see what our adventures are. Yep. Um, well, thank you to the the boys tonight from Men with Manners and Mr. Norris on his uh presentation. That was It's It's nice to hear that they're talking to each other and that they're actually engaging and not just looking down cuz at my house when it comes to dinner time, everybody's

114devices go. We sit and talk and and most of the time when the kids come over now, they're in their 20s. There's not a lot of cell phones. We're chasing little ones around and playing music for the 2-year-old and just hanging out and having a good time. And we get board games out. They like to do that, too. So, it's nice to hear that the older kids are doing that stuff. And um all the donations and the people that are giving their time and their extra effort to help our children. >> That's it. Ryan, thanks for coming in, giving us the uh update on the cell phone policy and how well our uh students are getting acclimated to it and and took to it right away. So, that's uh a great compliment to them and

115the staff and everything at the at the high school. So, spring sports coming up. Good luck to all those athletes that are getting ready and the coaches that are getting all that stuff organized and and everything. And then um Sarah took the the other winter sports all hit wrestling. I was there. We had our uh NLLL uh league meet on Saturday. This is the first time ever that there was a girls wrestling NLLL tournament. Actually, we're one of the few leagues. um talking to other coaches and the commissioner of the NLLL, there isn't too many conferences or leagues around the state that had an L had a girls wrestling tournament. So, we were one of the few in the state. Um this is the first year for it. Um and we did it alongside the

116boys. So, they would do a round of boys, round of girls. Napoleon hosted it. They did a great job. Uh everything was organized really well. There was a lot of teams there. Um a lot of wrestlers. boys took second in the Cardinal division. Uh so they pulled out well lost in points to Clay took first in the Cardinal and then the girls were just one division. Um we had we ended up winning by quite a landslide actually. Very proud of our girls. Um of the 14 weight classes we had 11 girls competing for the championship of that weight class and eight of them took first. So, eight of the 14 weight classes went to Fremont Ross, Lady Giant. So, that's >> what's up. >> Um, the word of the day was dominate, and they kind

117of did that in a big fashion. Uh, pointwise, we second place was like 15 points behind us. Um, so, and I realize we have a strong team. We have the numbers on our team compared to some of the others. So, not to uh Parisburg had two girls compete. So, you you can't you know that there is a difference there, but it's growing. So, um >> our girls were tougher. >> They they showed a lot of perseverance on on Saturday. So, they did a great job. Uh Jaden Long got female wrestler of the year for the league. Um so, congratulations to her, especially as her senior year. And but uh both wrestling teams are getting ready. We have sectionals this weekend. Boys are they leave Friday night and we wrestle on Sunday in Finland for our

118sectionals. So, um, good luck to both wrestling teams and other team swimmer, our diver, the bowling the ladies bowling team, all those that are moving on. So, um, with that, there's no reason for an executive session. So, can I have a motion for adjournment, please? >> So, moved. >> Motion by Mrs. Bloom. Could I have a second? >> Second by Miss Layman. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Bloom. >> Yes. Miss Layman? >> Yes. >> Miss Lewis? >> Yes. >> Mr. N? >> Yes. >> Mr. Price? >> Yes. Motion's approved. Meetings adjourned.