001[Music] We'll go ahead and call the meeting to order. If we could stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. [Music] >> Aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Okay. Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> here. Miss Layman, >> here. Miss Lewis, Mr. N >> here, >> Mr. Price >> here. Um, can I get a motion to approve the minutes from our regular meeting held August 11th, 2025, please? >> So move. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Miss Bloom. >> Yes. Mr. N? >> Yes. >> Mr. Price? >> Yes. Motion's approved. Uh
002moving on to legislative report. >> Uh yes. Um just going to give a a short verbal presentation at this meeting and then at the next meeting I'll have the um um uh information that is sent out by the different organizations. Um, couple of things. The governor's work group uh has has been meeting uh they have that end of September deadline and a couple of the issues that three issues that they're working on um which I'm not sure that I saw that totally as all these as his directive. one is cyber security um just indicating that there's an organization cyber Ohio that has already done one training and there's another one coming up if we had um people attend that >> um there was a very large training with um noa our site um and some
003of us did participate in that there are some changes that we need to bring >> um I believe it's house bill 6 that information. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Uh there's also working on um they're talking about the the property tax uh work group. Um one of the things that they have been concentrating on is the cash balance discussion. And um it was interesting at the um le uh legislative liaison webinar today they mentioned that the recommendation that's coming from that group is that it be at 100% level versus 30 and 50 and all those numbers. And basically they're saying, you know, at this point in time, why would we be penalizing our uh school districts uh that may come into some money through uh maybe like the pipelines and uh and whatever whatever opportunities.
004And it also affects future planning whe for levies and you know uh financing our our districts. So uh you know I I thought that was a good thing that they're kind of pushing at least in that direction. Um they're also discussing the types of levies. Uh this group's coming across apparently they're indicating that they feel that um emergency levies might still be needed in some districts and they they kind of said that maybe we just need to call it a different name. But I think really what they're saying is there might be a need for some type of other levy. Uh I don't think that affects us because we're not doing that. But uh throughout Ohio, they're they're taking a look at that. Um one positive thing I think is the fair school funding group
005will be um attending their meeting. I guess they meet every Thursday, the uh governor's work group. and uh they're going to be attending this Thursday and making a presentation uh about fair school funding and several other issues related to that. Um I'm sure they'll touch on vouchers and you know those types of things. uh re and realizing that that group, you know, is does not have any elected officials on that right now that uh I think there might be one or two um former legislators that the governor has put on there, but uh this group would then whatever their findings are, we'll have to go back to um whether through the report or presentation, we'll have to convince Senate and House um why these are good things. So, it's really in my mind it kind
006of just adds another layer of people making recommendations. And so, um, you know, and I I'm not sure that we've seen that our legislators right now, um, want to be giving given a lot of input on direction. Uh, they haven't, you know, really followed through with a lot of those things. Um, there's one new proposal that's out there. It's called House Bill 113, and that creates a public expenditure database, and that would be for all entities that are receiving um public uh tax dollars. and uh the way it's I'm not sure exactly what the word use of that will be, but they've already made in there one exception and that is that like the private schools that are getting some uh tax money for the uh vouchers and stuff that they are excluded from having
007to meet that directive. So I you know um it you know it's it's definitely a concern. And then uh the final one that I would mention is um uh HJR House joint joint resolution number six uh is to amend our state constitution and I think we'll be hearing more about that in the near future as to what they want to put into that bill that I sounds like that's something in the works. Um but again, you know, when you start kind of messing with the state constitution, you know, that can uh bring up a lot of other uh u miscellaneous issues. And uh whereas like right now, you know, they're under the directive I think um I'm trying to remember the date if it's the end of September or end of but um to put
008out the new congressional map and with the mapping and there so there's directives out there for that has to be done. If the House and Senate do not agree on the new mapping for the congressional districts, then what ends up happening, it kicks back to the governor or the um there's a uh committee. I can't remember the name of it. Uh there's so many of them, but it kicks back to the committee that I think put that together originally and the governor sits on that one. So, it's hard to know, you know, exactly way what way he will push for that to go. So, that's just kind of a a verbal update of some of the things that are going on in particular uh with the state of Ohio right now. So that's all I
009had. >> Okay. Thanks, Don. >> Uh, next, no walk-on items tonight. >> Thank you. >> Um, next is a community section. No one's here to address the board, so we'll move on to superintendent report. >> Thank you, Mr. Price. Good evening, board members. Um, just a quick shout out for our registration department um of Daniel Garza, Amy Perie, and Susan King. Um we are averaging 40 to 45 appointments a week for the last three weeks. Um these individuals are working super hard to acknowledge our families who are coming to Fremont City Schools need to get their students registered. Um we are attempting to get everyone um on board and ready to go for up to date so we're ready when school starts uh beginning tomorrow. Um, but I will tell you we have 30 appointments
010scheduled this week. Um, they are trying very hard to work around family schedules. They are starting their day 600 6:30 in the morning and going sometimes to 8:00 at night. Um, just truly to meet the needs of families of when they are available and what that could look like. Um, so cannot speak um, highly enough about them right now. They've just done a fantastic job of answering the the calls to our families. Um, I did also want to just take a moment. I'd sent my first parent square notification this afternoon at 5:00. So, I hope that all of our members in our community also received that. Um, if not, please make sure that you have all of your information in final forms up to date and ready to go because that's where all of that
011is pulled from. Um, but I would just like to recap that so that everyone is on the same page. So, school does start tomorrow in Fremont City Schools and we are very excited about that. um and truly to best meet the needs of our students. That is why we do this. This will be a very crazy week in Fremont City Schools and we do it for one reason and that is truly to support our students and make sure that we can give them the very best start that we can. Um but with that stated with for the Y, it does get a little crazy. So tomorrow on Tuesday, August 26, grades 1 through 5, grade six only, and grade nine only at middle school and high school. And that is again so that our sixth
012graders and our ninth graders can get a lay of the land, figure out their locker and their schedule and walk through. And it also gives our teachers and our administration a chance to just really share some information with them and give them the very best start to these two new buildings that are big and new to them. On Wednesday, August 27th, all of those people that came on Tuesday have to come back. So, they all come again, but this time on the 27th, we are going to add um the first half of our kindergarteners. So, we stagger them in. So if your last name begins A to L, you come on Wednesday and you won't come on Thursday and you will come back again on Friday. Also on Wednesday, we start to bring in our
013preschool students. We are going to add in our seventh and eighth graders to this building and our 10th through 12th graders at the high school. >> Mhm. On Thursday, August 28th, again, we'll have some preschool kids. We will add in those kindergarteners whose last name begins with M to Z. So we only bring in half the group on Wednesday and half the group on Thursday so that they that room just doesn't feel quite as crowded. Then on Friday, the 29th of August, for the last day of the week, we will have all of our students kindergarten through grade 12 in our buildings. So that will be the first day all the kindergarten kids will come together. they'll be able to see their whole classroom together. So really truly um I know that it's a peace
014meal and I know that sometimes that gets confusing for families but really really with the best intentions of how can we break it down and support our students so that they are not nervous and that they get a really good start. >> So very very exciting for that. >> Um at your seats this evening you have um the new district calendar. Those are going out to the buildings as well so our families can look for those at home. Um, so a lot of uh great faces in there and a lot of good information. So I'm excited to share that yet again. Um, it looks wonderful this year. Any questions on the start of the school or any of those pieces? >> Sounds like a good plan. >> Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right,
015Mr. Price, if you're good, I'll continue. >> Yes. >> Okay. Item number one, I would ask for the consideration of the approval of some donations. Um, many of these items have been donated to support our staff members as we start this school year. >> Can I get a motion to approve item one, please? >> So, move. >> Motion by Mr. Nally. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom. >> Yes. Ms. Layman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Price? >> Yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Item number two. Um, we did have a typo in there. That should read not to exceed $10,000 for that contract. Um, that is for Dalton Harp. He assist us with our digital media for our athletic
016groups. So, we missed a zero there. >> Can I get a motion to approve item two, please? >> So moved. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Layman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bloom. Yes. Mr. Mr. Ny. >> Yes. >> Mr. Price. >> Yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Item number three. Um this is a little bit of a change with some of that retirement pieces that we saw at the end of last spring. Um so I would ask that you approve the contract with Michael Debruns. He will be assisting the athletic department in laundering all of our cloth services um for this this portion of the year. And that will be for Fremont City Schools and SJCC combined. And
017this is kind of a joint effort between the two school districts. Can I get a motion to approve item three, please? >> So moved. >> Motion by Mrs. Bloom. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Nally. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mrs. Bloom. >> Yes. Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Um, item number four, I'd ask that you approve the contract with the Association for Private Counseling. Um, this is not a new entity to us, just a renewal for the start of the school year. Okay. I get a motion to approve item four, please. So move. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Miss
018Layman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Um, item number five. I have several quotes here with a resolution that for you to approve. This will get our safety connector project up and running. Um I did send you out earlier today um a a plan a pictorial of what that looks like and you see those renderings as to what this is going to look like combining or I'm sorry connecting our current Ross High School building and our current natorium building. >> Can I get a motion to approve item five please? >> So moved. >> Motion by Mr. Nally, could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? >> When do you when do you think they're going to
019be finished with the project? >> Our goal is to We are about a month behind right now. They will to be breaking ground very soon to get started. Um we do have two time frame goals that we are hoping for. Um, we are hoping to be under roof by Novemberish so that students that will be going back and forth between the pool and the building um will at least still be covered. >> That is our goal. Um, and we are still hoping for end of project to be spring of 2026. >> Nice. Thank you. >> Roll call, please. >> Sorry, Miss L. Oh, man. Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, yes. Miss Layman, >> yes. Mr. Bryce, >> yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you very much. Um, item number six, if you just consider
020the approval to grant um a high school diploma to our student, um, Hayden Samson, please. >> Can I get a motion to approve item six, please? >> So moved. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Moving on to staff events this evening. Um, item numbers beginning with item number seven with the resignation of Tiffany King. Um, I do have an adjustment for item number eight. I would like to remove that asterisk. Um late in the day on Friday, August 22nd, all materials came in for Katrina Cra who will be joining us um here at FMS as our school
021nurse. So I would like to change the TBD to be effective 82525 for today. Um and she will start item number nine. Um we have a list of um certified substitutes in A. In B we have um support staff substitutes in item number 10. We have many staff who are going to support our students by doing a little bit extra with one of those um additional supplemental contracts. Item number 11, we have some additional outside individuals that are joining us um in the district to do some of those um key volunteering positions as well as some um supplemental support pieces. Item number 12 is a status change. Item number 13 includes all of the items for our teacher mentors. These are individuals, these are veteran teachers and staff who are going to support our novice
022teachers. Um the law did recently just change. There was used to be a mandate that you had to do this for so many years before you could get full lure. That law did change. Um we do still in the district believe very strongly that supporting our novice staff. Um and attaching those mentors, those veterans teachers that can really help them um pays off immensely. So we would like to continue with that project and those are the listed there on item 13. >> Can I get a motion to approve items 7 through 13? Please move. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Nally. Any discussion? One quick question. Why did the state change that on the mentoring thing? Because that was such a hardcore piece that they wanted to
023push and now it's going by the wayside. it is um and it actually started to dissolve a few years ago. It used to be um a paid component. Those dollars were reimbursed from the state level um to the local districts and those dollars then went away and we as a district said you know what we're still we believe in this program >> um and we're going to support our staff and they still had to maintain >> um year 1, year two, year three before they could get that full lensure piece. um this is the final piece of that and those requirements have gone away. We still believe it's best practice and >> the sad thing is it's such a nominal cost for the benefit and you know the higher the quality of the teachers that
024we create the better you know our students are going to learn and so it's it's sad that something like that is not continued to be supported by the state. >> Yeah, I agree. I mean, in any business, if you have a brand new employee who's never done a job before, especially straight out of college, >> you have someone that helps them, they don't know everything. They don't know their way around. So now you're allowing hopefully districts hold on to this piece to help their staff because otherwise you've got college kids coming in and they don't have a clue. >> Don't have a clue. And you know, it starts with things as basic as where do I stash my lunch and how do I take attendance? >> Yeah. >> To how do I enter grades and
025where do I get some ideas for lesson planning and >> um you know all of the instructional pieces and the supports um of the tools in their classroom that they have access to. Yeah. >> So, and you can see those different dollar amounts even >> um we expect to have to support them a little bit more in year one and year two. >> Um as opposed to as they get farther along, they need a little less support and so >> the work becomes a little less. But agree with you, it's it's such a worthwhile component. >> And it's usually the exact opposite of what the state does. This is a good thing that they implemented and they're taking it away instead of implementing something that means nothing. and keeping it on forever. But hey, you
026know what? >> What do we know? >> Yeah. All right. Uh, roll call, please. Sorry. >> Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom. >> Yes. Mr. Price. >> Yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Um, beginning with item number 14, um, 15 and 16, we just have, uh, some different substitute wage pieces there. Item number 14 will be our, uh, administrative staff substitute wage, please. All right. Can I get a motion to approve item 14, please? >> So move. >> Motion by Mr. Nally. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom, >> yes. >> Miss Layman, >> yes. >> Mr. Price, >> yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Item number 15 um is the certified
027staff substitute wage for this school year. Please. >> Can I get a motion to approve item 15, please? So moved. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any disc uh any discussion? Sorry. >> Roll call, please. >> Miss Layman. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bloom. Yes. >> Mr. Nally. >> Yes. >> Mr. Price. >> Yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. Item number 16 now is our support staff substitute wage. Um and that was included also for you to take a look at. Can >> I get a motion to approve item 16, 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. >> Mr. Nelly? >>
028Yes. >> Mr. Price? >> Yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you, Mr. Price. Um, final item for me this evening, item number 17. Um, Miss Miller is making a request to go to um a conference in September. I know that when she does go away, she there's just so much that she learns and brings back um and and shares with the rest of us. As EM coordinator, we want to make sure that she has all the information that she needs. >> Nobody wants to take her place, do they? >> No one wants to take her place. And and the more accurate we are with our EMIS um reporting >> um and what that report looks like, then the more accurate our dollars flowing in. So it's very very important. >> Can I get a motion to
029approve item 17, please? >> So moved. >> Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? >> Second by Mr. Nally. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Miss Layman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mr. Mrs. Bloom. Yes. Mr. Price. >> Yes. Motion's approved. >> Thank you. >> All right. Moving on to report of the treasurer. Uh, good evening. Couldn't even tell you what I did last week anymore. I don't remember. It's just been so crazy. Um, with all of our opening day activities, I believe I got up and talked in front of a bunch of people. Try to forget that if possible. Um, >> 500 of your favorite friends. >> Yeah. >> I will just say as one of those people, we were totally enthralled in here. >> I thought you did
030a great job. You did, too. You did. If I remember correctly, I may have made a joke about going over all of legislation that was hitting and I had a bunch of people with looks on their faces of, "Oh, dear God, please don't." So, um, but that as normal that day went out off with a hitch. Um, and then we had all of our other normal opening day activities last week. And for those that don't know, it takes a lot to get a school district ready for the start of the school year. Um, my office isn't as busy, but it trickles down to us and we see everybody else running around like crazy people like we do other times of the year. Um, tonight all I have on the agenda is the financials um for
031the first month in for the school year. looking wonderful. Um, and as I end up saying a lot of times, a lot of the differences between this year and last year has to do with timing of when real estate um, settlements hit. Sometimes they don't all hit at the same time every year. Just depends on collections and when the auditor gets them to us. So, you know, there might be an inc a large increase of this year versus last year and it's just how collections ran. We won't really know until I did just get our final settlement. So, I will know in the August report how we actually did on um the collection this year versus last year. Um uh interest rates are falling. So we are always going to project that that interest revenue
032that we have seen a large increase over the last couple of years it's going to start going down and you'll see um this year we did for the month of July it is down from last year but like I said finally those rates are starting to go down so we're going to see that we're expecting to see that continue a downward trend. State funding is holding steady. We won't see the increase that we were um given with the state budget until the end of November. So those state funding payments will re relatively remain relatively um the same. This is the first month I get I wouldn't have to say anything about wages and benefits being down due to write off, but you know, I just miss saying it, so I'll throw that in there. Um
033it's for our expenses. There's not too many huge changes. Just kind of our normal. Our purchase services is up a little bit. Um but that's due to some of our um contracts went up for purchase services as everything else did. Um supplies are up. We're seeing inflation just like everyone else. So, um, not too much to report back on of the financials for the month of July. Can't believe I'm already in fiscal 26 already. That's crazy. But here we are. Um, so, if I can ask for your guys's approval on that one item and then you won't have to hear me talk the rest of the night pretty much. All right. Can I get a motion to approve item 18, please? So move. >> Motion by Mr. Nally. Could I have a second? >> Second
034by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom. Yes. Mr. Price. >> Yes. Layman. Yes. >> Yeah. Sure. >> We knew what you meant. >> Let's try that again. >> Mr. Nally, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bloom. >> Yes. Ms. Layman. >> Yes. >> Mr. Price. >> Yes. Motion's approved. All right, moving on to board member communications. Uh Lori, >> well, um thank you for all the donations and congratulations to Hayden Samson on his diploma. It's a you know an exciting and welldeserved uh and congrat or welcome back to all the kids tomorrow for the most part and with the exception of a couple of grades here and there but yeah that and all the teachers and I know my grandson's excited so but I hope tomorrow is
035a a really good day and it goes off without a a hitch and everybody ready. It's smooth. >> Denise and Mrs. Parkhurst down there. Miss Parker, I hope you guys have a great year ahead. I know you guys have put in a lot of hard work over the summer. Your whole office, as you were speaking earlier, you guys are going to have a good year. Hard work always pays off. >> Welcome back, kids. I hope you have a good year, too. take uh just take time to get to know your friends and make new friends and enjoy your classes, your teachers, everything that's out there. Teachers, I wish you the best of luck and honestly, I hope that um more parents get involved this year too and they take time to go to community events
036and you know the special performances and stuff that their children are into, grandchildren, just be there for them, be present for them. I believe that makes a big difference. So, good luck everybody. >> Oh, yeah. Um, attended the football game Friday night. It was a close game and, you know, I think, uh, I'm sure the the coach is preparing them and getting ready for Sundeski this week. And just want to encourage everybody to, you know, uh, be be good fans, cheer, you know, cheer cheer for our team. Um, you know, and just be safe and, you know, I think as uh, Mrs. Lewis kind of would say, just, you know, be smart, don't do anything dumb. Um, and just enjoy the fact that you're there at a at a uh school football game. Uh, also
037I going with um uh what Miss Layman uh had brought up with the uh district. I think you know it was obvious at the opening session that there's been a lot of work put into prepping prepping for the school year and you know just want to commend you know everybody involved in the district and um you know from you know the shiny floors you know I mean just the facilities look great and just encourage the kids and everybody to uh continue to keep keep up on those. Uh, and I think they'll have a great uh educational year. Um, and you know, when you talked to uh when Mrs. her talked uh earlier about kind of that that break in the schedule and half the kids. I think it's just very creative ways to acclimate the
038kids without the pressure of everybody, you know, and so I think, you know, there's some some good thought that goes into that. And then uh Mrs. Parkhurse, I think when you mentioned earlier about the um uh giving the big long legislative report, I think the only thing that would have been more scary is if you would have told him that I was going to do that. >> So that's all I had >> next year. >> That's all I had. >> Okay. Thanks. Um well, congratulations to the football team. It's always I'm a football guy, so >> um high school football starting is always a good time of year. So, uh good win on Friday to beat Colombian. It's been a couple years, couple three years maybe since we won. So, now we've got Sunduski, one
039of our rivals. So, um another good time to come out with a win and let's be two and 0 after this week. And >> um good job to all of our sports teams that have been going on. Um everybody's had a good start. Things are are going well. opening meeting in the first week of staff being here and stuff I think has been really good. So hopefully that's a good start of the year for everybody. Um also congratulations to any of our students that had anything to do with the fair, whether they had an animal there, a project, if they were working the fair, whatever it was. Um, a lot of kids put in a lot of work on stuff that they do, whether it's raising an animal to show or doing a project or
040working there or whatever. Um, I have no problem with child labor. You can ask my daughters. They work at the cookie shop probably earlier than what they wanted to. So, I think it it really that's a commitment for them that they are putting in that hard work at an early age, sometimes grade school, raising sheep or cows or whatever it might be. That's a lot of work for a whole year to get them ready for the fair. So, um, good job to to our students there. So, um, with that, uh, there's no reason for executive sessions, so I would ask for a motion of adjournment, please. >> Motion by Mrs. Bloom. Could I have a second? Second. >> Second by Miss Layman. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Uh, Mrs. Bloom. Yes, >> Miss Layman.
041>> Yes, >> Mr. Nally. >> Yes, >> Mr. Price. >> Yes. Motions approved. Meetings adjourned. >> Ross. [Music]