001[Music] Hey. [Music] Oh, [Music] All right, we'll go ahead and call the meeting to order. Uh before we start with the pledge, I want to introduce our student that we have tonight with us. Uh her name is Giana Esavl. She's a first grade student at Krogan Elementary in Mrs. Quam's class. She's the daughter of Amanda and Wesley Esavl. So, she'll be leading us in the pledge tonight. So, if everybody could stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. I I pledge for aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, and liberty and justice for all. [Music] Beautiful. All right. Thank you, Giana. You did a very good job. Um, moving on in our agenda. Roll call, please. Mrs. Bloom, here. Miss
002Layman here. Miss Lewis, here. Mr. Nally, here. Mr. Price here. Um, can I get a motion to approve the minutes from our regular meeting held April 14th, 2025? So moved. Motion by Miss Lewis. Could I have a second? Second. Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Ms. Miss Lewis. Yes. Mrs. Bloom. Yes. Miss Layman. Yes. Mr. N. Yes. Mr. Price. Yes. Motion's approved. Uh, moving on to legislative report. Uh yes have a number of things. Um today was uh at noon there was a legislative leaison on uh web webinar um question and answer lasted about an hour. Um some of the things that we covered there and some of the things that we've read in uh other items that have been sent to us. Um, wanted to mention that with the budget in
003Columbus, uh, right now the Senate is looking at the, uh, education committee, uh, will be having public hearings on May 7th and 14th. Uh, there's quite a few different uh, bills before before them. Uh, one of the things that uh you'll hear from our our treasurer um and that that I'll mention several times probably tonight is talking about the legislature right now is looking at this cash balance um situation and throughout the state and they're looking at wanting to cap um those uh carryover dollars. Um whereas someone might look at that and say, you know, hey, there's uh a a good bunch of money there. Uh why do you need more money? Well, one of the things that happens is as we go for levies and uh those those take into consideration that uh expenses
004are going to continue to go up over the course of time. So if a levy is say for five years, it's not that um we as a district are saying um that we can get little now and then get more later as things go up. You get that same amount throughout that. So you are going to have a little bit more cash at the beginning and uh and then as prices continue to go up for different items then um then we have those dollars to make it through that period of time that we've told the voters in our community. Uh, one of the things that with that cash balance and and again I think we'll see um from from our finance committee and also from our treasurer is uh being very transparent as to what
005those dollars are that are being carried over and uh what those are designated for within the district. And you know, most of most of all those dollars or all those dollars are set in that budget that's presented and then we also have our 5-year forecast. There's a lot of lot of pieces to that puzzle. Um, also wanted to mention one of the considerations is the elimination of um a replacement and and and I'll ask for assistance with this if if I'm saying this wrong. uh they're looking at eliminating the option of going for a levy that is a replacement and uh correct. Yes. Um so right now you have the option if you are um going to take a levy that would be similar but change maybe the rate or something you would call a
006replacement levy. you have one expiring that you're going to replace with a new one, but there is legislation that will totally take that option away. Every levy would have to be that's not a renewal would have to be a new levy. It would not be allowed to go on as a replacement. and and I would share one of the things that the speaker today mentioned was that since 2010 there have within our um within our state there have only been 40 attempts at going for replacement levies and not all of those 40 were school districts. some of those were um townships uh different um other political entities. So um you know I think what OSBA is looking at is trying to make sure that we have all the tools in our toolbox to make sure
007that we continue to uh provide the quality services to our students. Uh, a couple other uh, things that I, uh, noted that, you know, they're still working on is House Bill 205. I thought was interesting. It's called the Future Education Support Act, um, which is to collect data on teachers, and they throw out a lot of different options working with, um, student teachers. Uh but the main thing that they're trying to get across to uh everyone is that there is a demand for teachers and whatever we can do to show that there's that need um you know within our districts uh is what this particular bill was is trying to accomplish. Uh they're also talking about the cell phone policy. Um they indicated that their understanding is the legislature uh both the house and the
008senate are pretty strong on just uh total elimination of cell phones. um basically even coming into the building um or is that is that your understanding Denise? That is my understanding. So current legislation um mandates that by July 1 of 25 so this coming up summer um all districts across the state of Ohio needed to have a cell phone policy in place. Um so we have spent some time this school year tweaking ours and taking a look at that. But what the current conversation will come for the year after. Um and what I'm hearing is a total um unallowance. Right. So we'll see what the true language is at the end of the day. Right. Thank you. Mhm. Uh the final thing I wanted to mention was which I thought was this was um reflection
009on the thinking of our legislators that are being that are talking to the OSBA um staff that are our advocates. they were asked the uh the question about the cumulative effect of all these bills. Uh if you took them all at one time and said what is the effect on our schools then you could piece that out and figure out okay this is going to be pretty massive. But they were asked, "Are you looking at that cumulative effect?" And their answer was emphatically, "No." They're looking at each individual um bill. And and to me, that's very scary because you take each of those that put on a different um requirement, a different dollar amount, and boom, it's this big number. And you know, if the if the reasoning is to kind of blow up our
010system, they can accomplish that by doing something like this. So hopefully somebody, you know, kind of comes to their senses and realizes that cumulative effect of bills. So to me it's to me that was one of the more scary statements to come from a number of legislators and right now that's all I have. I got a couple comments I can't pass up. Gosh, some I think the scariest thing out of all that is these are the people running our state. I that's scary to me. Um one the cell phone thing. Good luck with that, Columbus, because you're gonna have so many parents come coming after you. Your constituents are gonna be like, "Really?" So now my kid has to leave it in their car or if they're riding the bus, I want them to have
011a phone. Everybody has a phone. Everybody has a phone. If the school districts do their job and stop that from happening in the school, not a problem. So that have fun with that one. But the cash will be left to handle. Yeah. Again, it'll be the school district that looks bad. My challenge. Yeah. And the legislators will be like, "What? I don't know anything about it." Like they always do. The thing about cash balances, does anyone in Columbus, Has anyone owned a business or do they have any kind of business sense whatsoever? Because to say you can't have a cash balance as a private business, I have a cash balance because my egg prices at the cookie shop quadrupled on me. I got to raise my prices or I had I didn't get to, I
012had to to help cover that cost. School districts don't have a product to sell. So, how do we rate? We can't generate more income. And the thing is is what I would tell them is then don't have a bienium budget because every two years everything changes. So, we're not supposed to have a cash balance, but oh yeah, by the way, we're going to change your funding every two years and we're going to scrap the old model and go to something new and stupid again. and it doesn't work. It It doesn't make any sense to me whatsoever. Um and then they're not even thinking what this cumulative does to a district. And then, oh, but by the way, we need teachers in our schools. We're going to take away your money and we're going to blow
013up the system, but we need teachers. Come on. And then it still goes back, does every school district, not public schools, but does every other type of school in this state have to follow and do everything that we're doing? Because if it isn't, then it's not a le level playing field and they need to shut up down in Columbus because it doesn't make any sense. If you're going to hold everybody accountable to the same thing, great. If not, scrap it. It makes zero sense. I'm telling you, fired up. The insane are running the asylum. I think pieces. Oh, thanks, Don. I always like to be the I don't need any coffee now. I'm ready to Who's Who wants to go to Columbus? We'll make a road trip real quick. Beat on some doors. Beat on
014some heads, too. To attend a meeting, of course. It's like, yeah, that'd be a fun meeting. Let me tell you, I think my head would explode if I sat in one of those committee meetings. It it to hear the pure stupidity that they don't even follow what they're trying to do. Oh, well, and it would behoove them to like gather input from local districts on Yeah. how how some of these things whether it's the singular bill or the cumulative is going to affect the local district and every local district is different. Um things that might happen in a Lucas County, a Kyhoga County, Hamilton County are going to be very different than Sunduski County and Senica County and some of the other, you know, smaller uh communities. So, and I would say OSBA, you know,
015when I when I listen to what they're presenting and I think they do a really good job of advocating for uh our districts and they're supposed to be that voice that you're talking about. Um, what I think we can hope is they're meeting with superintendent and they're talking to the districts and hopefully getting that information, but then somebody has to listen. And that's and that's the challenge going back to what uh Mr. Price was saying that, you know, we we have to have those people in Columbus that are going to listen uh to those thoughts. problem is there's too many people in Columbus that want public schools to fail. It's been like that since I've been on the board. I mean, the state testing, everything else, it all sets it up for public schools to
016fail and let's move ed choice and let's put vouchers in place. Great. I'm all for it. Let's make it a level playing field. That's all plain and simple. But the powers that be have my vote, Mr. President. Don't want to hear that. you know, they want to keep their little schools the the same and not have to deal with it. Well, great. We don't want to deal with it either. Get rid of it. We don't want red tape for everybody. Let's just eliminate red tape for public schools. But public schools are failing. Wonder why. Let's go take a trip to the education committee down at Columbus and let's figure out why. I can tell you about 10 reasons. All right, we better move on. Otherwise, I'm going to go on a bigger rant and it's
017going to be We are to drive to Columbus. What do you Mr. Price? I think that a final note though um with some of the things that Mr. Nelly did share. I think it's important to note with our community that now is the time um to make sure that individuals are receiving quality information and are taking a few minutes to look into some of the topics that you brought up. Um hearings are being scheduled. um now is a great time to reach out to um those individuals that represent us that are in Columbus um and are sitting on those committees and have a place at that table um with our voice. And so as you hear these things that maybe cause us a little bit of pause um now's a good time to to be
018able to put those things in action. those contact um all the contact information they can go right to our uh Fremont City School website and find I believe it is all there. I looked and I believe it's all right there. Yes. So So great. I think that's a great plug for our community um just to make sure that we're we're all moving forward but that we're informed um we know what the important topics are and we we use our voice, right? Thank you. Uh, moving on. No walk-on items tonight. No walk- on items, sir. Um, anyone wanting to address the board? We're not going to let No, Shel's not allowed to. So, Vroom, Shelly, Vroom, that's just for Ty to hear. So, um, moving on to superintendent report. Good evening, board members. Thank you so
019much. Um this evening I would like to start with by inviting um Mr. Tony Walker to come to the podium. Um Tony is our college and career assistant director. Um and he is going to share some information with us about our business advisory council. Um this is something that a couple times throughout this school year we've mentioned this BAC. Um, and we've had a few notations along the way and I was looking for an opportunity, a time frame where I could invite Mr. Walker. He sits on the business advisory council with me representing the district and he's going to share some information about what those contacts mean for us, what this partnership means for our district, and some of the positives that we all get, all of our students get because of that. So, welcome
020Tony Walker. Thank you very much for coming. Thank you. All right. So, we're going to start out with uh BAC. You'll hear us say BAC, which is the Business Advisory Council. And one of the big things we talk about or is said or a theme, uh, and you'll get it throughout this presentation is if you want to be it, you have to see it. And that's that's what they kind of start out with, giving our students the opportunity to see what it's like in a factory, see what it's like in um the the medical field, giving the kids experiences. And a lot of those experiences are based on their interest and their aptitude. We're going to talk a little bit more about that as we go on. as you see in the bottom of it
021says Sanduski County Economic Development Corporation um who is the person that runs our business advisory council and they're supported by the North Point Educational Service Center and we'll go through a little bit of that too. All right, so what is the BAC and what's its function? Well, an advisory council is an opportunity for schools to communicate with local businesses and local local community service um agencies, work together, and kind of develop what do we want our future employees to look like? What kind of skills should they have? and how can we implement that information into our schools right now so our kids are ready? Uh we talk about soft skills. Uh we talk about some of the uh things kids should walk in with whether it be work ethic um showing up on time, that
022kind of stuff. Well, we take that information and if we're teaching that in our schools, we do it in a little giant pathway. We do it when we do job shadowing um or even when we're just having communication with some of our students. So when we get them out there, they're able to function and assimilate with our business community pretty well. And it's kind of cool because this is a true partnership between the different companies like represented here, uh BMG, uh and Krogan Colonial Bank. And you'll see more companies as we we go through. All right. our our community, Sanduski County, our our businesses are giving back their time and effort to our students within our community to to to make us good. All right. So to start with the BAC leadership. So we have
023uh meetings and Beth Hannam who is executive director of the Sanduski County Economic Development Corporation runs our meetings and sets up some of the events that we have for our students and that is led by uh Andrea Smith. Uh she's from uh North Educational Service Center. Um, and uh, they're the ones that kind of lead us and our group through. Let me scoot back. I went a little bit too far. All right. So, talk about who makes up the BAC. And these are just a few. Just a few schools. Of course, us. We have Bishop Hoffman. We have Gibsonberg, Lakota, Vanguard, Satnau, Woodnorth, uh, and Terara State Community College. all these people sit around the table and kind of give their opinions on how we can make our students better and um take advantage of
024some of the opportunities within our community. Some of the businesses and again this is just a few of the businesses. Motion Controls, Prometica, Moer, BMG, Martin Marietta, Dam Schroeder, uh Sunrise Cooperative and Krogan Colonial Bank. just a few of them uh communities uh you know the department of health and human services department of jobs and family services and GLCAP there everybody really does their part to to advise the schools and we advise the businesses on how we can become better and uh improve our employment community as our students graduate. All right. So, kind of going back to that whole theme, if you want to be it, you have to see it. And this is where we start out. Now, you may have heard the the term youth science before. I think we've used it here
025when I've talked about it before. Youth science is an assessment. It talks about uh a person's aptitude. All right? So, it's an assessment they take. It's pretty intensive. Uh we hold it uh during Lil John Pathway, which is our students nth grade year. they take this test and it kind of tells you what you're good at, not necessarily what your interests are because they may not know everything that's available to them. All right. So, it does give you a little bit of that, but it talks about what's their what are you going to be good at? And it gives them about 30 jobs that and it and it's ranked from one to to 30 and says uh based on your skill level at this time, this is what you you'll be pretty good at. So,
026that's kind of how we start uh with that you science information. And then they talk about increasing expo exposure. Now uh for the uh it's been several years uh we've sponsored or we've been part of a teacher boot camp. Now, teacher boot camp is actually taking some of our educators and educators around around Sanduski County and taking them and putting it into businesses for a little bit to learn what they're actually what they actually do in that business so that if they're having conversations in the hallways or they're talking to the students and they're saying, you know, I really think I might want to do uh be a machinist, they know a person or a company that does machining. So, it's a a chance for us to network and kind of So, we start out
027with the teacher boot camp and then we started with the student career camps. Okay. And the student career camps, we take some of our students who show an aptitude uh let's say in agriculture and we'll take them and we go to we go to Sunrise and learn about the different jobs that are available in there. Uh, and it allows uh our local businesses not only to network, recruit, and talk to some of our students, but it allows us to see uh teachers uh and the students to see opportunities that are out there upon graduation and see maybe and and we do it our nth grade year. So hopefully it kind of directs their their course of study as they go through. building connections. Again, career showcases, whether we're doing job fairs and companies are saying,
028"Hey, this is what we do." Uh we do our ninth grade year. We go to uh uh and we have our ninth graders go and they learn about like Whirlpool and and the different companies and they'll you usually have uh Green Bay Packaging and they they do certain activities for the kids. again allowing our students uh exposure to some of the companies that are around here, some of the options, career options that there are out there. Uh then we go to as they get into their junior senior year, we're doing job shadowing. So we're putting the kids actually in the companies to and allow them to talk to um people in that profession and ask questions. Uh, Prometica does an excellent job. There's there's a lot of companies that do excellent job with this, but
029I just mention Prometica does an excellent job at this where we uh we'll we'll have a student that says, you know, I think I might want to do dietary. Well, we can we can put them there. I think I want to be a neurosurgeon. We can put them with a neurosur they won't let them do any surgery, but they'll they'll they'll actually allow them to do some question and answer. So it there are c even it there there are companies out there that that actually work with that uh work with our kids and again they're networking every time they do that. So then that kind of maybe evolves into internships. So the kids are actually doing that and maybe they're going to do some handson work and then um as we go down eventually they're
030going to graduate and they get employment. All right. So they know somebody in the field they can talk to somebody. they'll know the the pros and cons uh and hopefully direct them as they go. All right. So, how Department of Education workforce and business advisory council uh has established these three goals which we kind of talked about a little bit. So, we're uh they want our business advisory council develop person professional skills for future careers. So, they're talking about our students, what kind of skills are needed. So we talk about that as a group and we try to implement some of that as we uh work with our kids building partnerships. So not only uh will I or some of the superintendent or uh job coaches uh get a chance to uh network with these
031uh with these uh business our kids get a chance to also. So if they see somebody owns a business in Walmart or uh some of the other stores, they can actually have a conversation with them and and hopefully uh get some experience and then again coordinate experiences. We have all these schools doing the same thing. They all we all want our kids to be successful and and get a job. So if we pull our resources, we hopefully can allow all our students to be successful and uh develop students that um can achieve what they need to. All right. So activities that we do, talked a little bit about it, teacher career camps, actually putting the teachers into different businesses, learning about it, student career camps. This is a picture of some of our students uh
032doing uh career camp. Now this was unique. Uh sometimes you go to a career camp and uh this the uh they will do a presentation and say, "Hey, this is what we we end up doing. Uh this is this is how we produce something." So the kids and they'll get to know the different jobs that are there. Well, this time they actually had the students actually do the work, try it out, and it was hands-on. Kids loved it. Loved it. Um and a matter of fact they since it went so well they did it again this year as they uh went so and career coaching networking job fairs of course manufacturing showcases uh committee meetings and I'll just talk about the community comm community committee meetings. This allows us to communicate and again network with
033other schools because they have good ideas too. So it allows us to uh borrow uh those ideas and they borrow from us and uh we try to make it our our Fremont way and and hopefully benefit the kids and again the youth science information. Now you science that assessment is good for more than five years. So the kids will have access to that. So as they and just a little bit more about that as the kids take the uh I told you they have like 30 different jobs that it it uh identifies that they have the aptitude to do well in. Well uh they can actually research the job. You know maybe it says that I'm going to be a teacher. So I can actually do research on the U science site and say well
034this this is how much they get paid in this area. this is how many jobs that uh might be available in this area. Uh so they can actually do research that way. Um it's a it's a great assessment. Takes a little time but uh gives them great information. Mr. Walker, if I could real quick, please. Do parents have access to the you science result? They can have access to the you science results. How would how would a parent do that? Just just ask and we can send that information that to them. Yeah, it actually it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if we sent uh that information on to the parents so they know what it actually is. Um sometimes like say for take my daughter as example, she took um Little Giant Pathway freshman
035year uh fall or freshman year, right? So we'll have to keep going back to it, revisit it, you know, what do you want to do? And then as you become a junior and senior becomes more real because I got to get a job or got to go to school and still get a job but it becomes more real but we need to revisit it. Um so um one of the things that a lot of our employers have been doing uh during the job fairs is asking what's your science say? You know tell me about your youth science results. And it's kind of kind of funny because it forces our kids to think back. M um they've also started being very specific about um let's say a the medical field. Hey, we're going to just do
036one on the medical field, you know, and we're identifying students that that show a high interest or a high aptitude in the medical field and we're just going to take those kids and put them there. So even if I was I wanted to be a mechanic, I didn't want to be a medical person, I'm not forcing that kid to go in that field. So or to go visit that. All right. Um here's an example of it. Uh they we just went to uh place called Sports Force and this is a a program they did on uh young men innovate. So, um, this is a chance where they grabbed ninth grade boys that might be interested in technology, that kind of stuff. And we were able to go and visit there. There had to be uh
03720 to 30 companies um in this group and we got a chance to do a pre uh watch a presentation on each one of these. So again, it's an opportunity for us to have our students think about different employment area areas that they might be interested in going to. Um, students loved it. Mr. Walker, can you speak to why it's for boys only? That one that was they just wanted direct. I think we're going to have one for babies later on. We have a there's a a group that does a a program called CTA, right? And that's group just the women uh that's operators, engineers, uh they run cranes and uh uh backhoes and and that kind of stuff and try to get uh more of our into that uh that happens every year. I
038think they're they're just trying different things just to motivate. Very good. Thank you. Um Mr. Walker, just a reminder, I need you to be at your microphone so that um I'm a walker. I mean, at home can continue to hear you. That's all. Thank you so much. Okay. Uh all right. One of the cool things about our our BAC or business advisory council is they're award-winning. All right. And just recently uh they were they received a fourstar designation which is the highest uh for Ohio excellence in BAC recognition. So other people are looking at what we're doing in Sanduski County and they're copying what we're doing in Sunday uh Sanduski County and um really proud of being a part of that group and the people that are involved in it. So uh we are trends
039setters in that in that regard. All right. So for more information uh you can go to about BAC's you can go to Ohio Department of Education Workforce um and type in BAC or the BAC operating standards. And of course you can find information on North Point Educational Service Center and the Sanduski County Economic Development Corporation. Uh all the pictures that you've seen are all our students. Every everyone uh in there are our students becoming involved. Uh and I I just want to point your attention to to two of them. Uh the bottom right uh that is uh Dam Schroer uh roofing construction. Um, now the cool thing about that, that student is actually learning how to weld um the the membranes together that they use on roofing. That was hands-on. Let's go get in it.
040And the kids, again, kids loved it. uh all the way to the left. Uh the students were actually playing a game with the crane, actually learning how to uh move one object from one uh place to another using the actual equipment. Uh I guess that's not a crane. Uh but um but they they get to move it from from one place to another and they were doing it for time. So uh really really neat. Um, I think the kids had a great experience and um, does anybody have any questions? I do. Go ahead. So, did you say this starts in the ninth grade on up or our Well, okay, let's our Little Giant Pathway is usually a ninth grade class. So, uh, but all the activities that we've mentioned here are 9th grade through 12th
041grade. Okay. All right. So, some of those people you'll see in this on these pictures are juniors or seniors. Okay. Primarily, that's what we kind of go for. If we're going to do experiences, we'll do juniors and seniors. Okay. So, it's those classes. So, my next question is you said it was kids that had certain aptitudes that could do it. Does that mean um like uh and how they're passing the youth science? Yeah, the youth science like their scoring or Yes. I guess can Johnny that's getting C's over here is he able to join this program instead of so and so who's yes it is it's not based on grades at all it's based on just your aptitude uh in doing and and I'm going to say a little bit of interest too because sometimes
042kids if they've not been exposed to that job they don't know about it and so our job is try to expose them to the different jobs that are there you know sometimes we just make assumptions is that you know uh if we go into this company they only make widgets but there's a whole bunch of things product procurement um sales uh uh driving production there's all kinds of different jobs in that one company that our kids are not exposed to so and so this is widely talked about I mean for kids to get involved in and yes okay and just a reminder that That little giant pathway course that Mr. Walker is referring to is a requirement to graduate from Fremont Ross High School. So, it's a unique locally developed course that we designed in
043Fremont City Schools and every student um has to take that before graduation 912. So, typically we try to get them in freshman sophomore year. Um, sometimes that gets tweaked in their schedule a little bit, but that's typical um, for a freshman or sophomore to cross that off their list. Probably one of the best things that I think that we've done as a district is Little Giant Pathway might not be the most popular opinion amongst certain populations, i.e. the kids. Um, but I think like you explained with even your own daughter, like those things as a freshman, you're like, "Let me just get a little giant pathways done and check it off the list so I can go on to the next thing." But as they become sophomores and juniors and seniors, and the reality of
044being employable, uh, comes to fruition, um, some of the things that they do in Little Giant Pathways are going to really matter. My question was very similar to Laura's. Um, we definitely this presentation has been awesome. Um, we cast a wide net out to catch a lot of children. Um, maybe doesn't need to be answered right now, but are there any disparities in what we're doing? Are there any kiddos that we're missing? And I always think about that because there are the high achieving students that garner a lot of attention because they're high achieving. But you could also be a high achieving all a student and kind of stay out the way a little bit. Um there are children who maybe are low achieving and get attention because of their low achievement. um that it's
045very easy to think we got to plug them into things like this because some of these things might be more in their lane um as an adult. But there's always that middle of the road student who they're not making too many waves on this end of the spectrum being high achieving. They're not underachieving or low in low achievement. They're just kind of hanging out. Um, those are the students that I'm always concerned about. Um, maybe they don't advocate for themselves. Um, or don't know how. Just food for thought if if we're missing those kiddos. Sometimes they need a little push. Mhm. Cuz they might not have anybody pushing them. Exactly. Agree. That's a good thought. When I'm explaining I'm sorry. when I'm explaining you science, one thing that I always try to um I Tony
046and I have had this conversation over the years, um it's a combination and it allows you I tell kids it's not just what you're interested in. It's not just what you like. I refer to it as it's what likes you. So, it shows that aptitude of what you're good at. And and I'll use my my youngest as an example. um he wasn't real sure until you science of what that looked like and I we were able to point out some of those pieces that liked him. It was obvious when you looked at his scores, when you looked at his data that the upper level math and science courses liked him. He did well at that. He had an aptitude towards towards those. If you ask him, "Do you like calculus?" He'd be like, "Uh, pause."
047No. Right. Yeah. out. Um that wasn't his thing, but he had aptitude towards it. So when we started having those conversations with that you science data to say this is what you're liking, but these this is what's liking you, it opened up whole new conversations. Um I just think it's valuable data to use with our students. And to go back, Miss Lewis, um if parents, we can we can certainly have some thought as to how we get that information out. But I would say to any of our parents that are um listening and attending to the meeting and would like to know more about their child, they can certainly reach out to any of the administrators at Ross High School or to Mr. Walker or myself um and we can make those connections to make
048sure that the parents have access. Um all of the students have their login information and they can sit down and look at any of that. And sometimes even well adjusted students don't want to share those things or don't you know what I mean just because of their age and stage they don't see the value yet but maybe mom at home would be chomping at the bit to see that to start those dinnertime conversations. Yep. So so very much so. please reach out um I would say to any of our our community that has that and maybe it would be a good practice to share those those things out. I do think the results are shared in some aspect. I just don't know to how at what level. Yeah. And you know and also that helps
049out with the job shadowing too, you know, um kind of directs it and we look for two things from job shadow. One that was a great experience. We'd love to do it, but we also look for, "Oo, I hate that. There's no way I ever want to do that." We want them to have that experience before, yes, they further their education and try to do it. And and um no collateral damage making a mistake like that. You want you want to make that not necessarily mistake, but you want to learn that. Yes. Yes. Correct. where it doesn't cost you and and at this point in time we can they can direct their studies too whether through through CCP or taking advantage of Vanguard you know they can they can direct their studies or think about
050what they want to do. Um, you know, I will say one thing about even the visiting and and doing these career camps, uh, a lot of the employers, and I'll use motion controls because it hap happened there and opened a whole bunch of students eyes as they were talking about setting up uh, the different uh, modules and machines that they had, he said, uh, one of the employee said, well, we this is the information you learned in in high school and then related it to real world. So, and you saw the kids saying, "Oh, all right. I get it. Now it makes sense, you know. Now it makes sense. I I didn't want to believe it before, but now they do. That's why algebra one matters. That's why so it becomes real world, you know,
051and it makes sense to them. So, uh it's been a great experience for our students. Well, and I think it matters that the people involved are enthusiastic about it. And Mr. Walker, kudos. Good job. Thank you. Great partnership. Thank you. No problem. Thank you. Yeah. Um board members, I just have two two quick things. Um at your seats, um I left you some results from our stakeholder surveys. Just tried to trying to pull a few pieces together. um as well as I left you a packet um that we recently utilized at our district leadership team meeting. Um so I just wanted you to I will share that piece with you. Um if I could just take a moment with our community on board just to share the stakeholder survey results. So we had a total
052of 767 results um in total and you can see the breakdown there between students, staff, parents and community. So we did get some rep representation from all four of those groups. Um we had both parent and student from both PE our preschool to five range, our 6 to8 range and our 9 to12 range. So again very happy that we had individual representation from all of our stakeholders. So in the survey we ask our stakeholders um some very similar questions across the board. We first asked them how do they connect with Fremont City Schools um and how do they stay current with information. We thought that that was good to hear from them as to what was already working. Um we then asked them, we gave them some list of items and we asked them to
053prioritize what they felt was important to be seen in Fremont City Schools. We then went back to that same list and we said, "How are we doing on that item in the district?" Um, and then third and finally, we asked them to rank Fremont City Schools on a couple of items. So, just a few pieces that um, so we've looked at this information uh, with our administrative team. We've looked at this information with our district leadership team last week. Um, so I just wanted to share a little bit more with you. So we do have some takeaways. Um what I gave you I looked at. So on those individual items we asked every group of stakeholders to rank them from number one to number five. Five being their strongest vote, their highest ranking. Um and
054so what I did is I looked at where we found fours and fives for each of these. So, for example, under staff and community, 96% of the respondents of staff and community said that caring staff was very important to them. When we asked how does Fremont City Schools rank with caring staff, 89% of the respondents gave us information that said it was a four or a five. Um, so our team went through and we looked at some of those pieces. We then started looking at what are the takeaways and what are some of the data that can help move us forward. What were some of the pieces that we really needed to take a look at? Um, one piece that I'll share with you is the bullyfree environment in every subgroup ranked it fairly high
055saying that it was a four or five in the percentage of importance. And when we looked at how are we doing, how is the district doing producing a bullyfree environment, there's a discrepancy. Those numbers, they drop off. So that's a piece that um we as a district want to take a little bit closer look at. Our community, our stakeholders, our students, our staff, our parents, they all say that that's a really important thing and we're not hitting the mark. So, we're going to keep working on that part. Um, another takeaway that we just found super interesting and we're not quite sure what it means to the data is telling us is that clean facilities was important across the board. Our parents, our staff, and our community, they all said it was a clean facilities was
056an important piece and they said we're doing a pretty good job with it. Our students said it was an important piece and our students said, "We're not sure you're doing a great job with that." There was a discrepancy there. So, um, spoke with Mr. Anway. We brainstormed that a little bit at our cabinet last week and we took a look. We're going to dig a little bit deeper. We want to have some more conversations with our students to get a little bit of that information. They obviously see the building from the very inside. And also your janitors would be good too. You know, all your housekeepers, you know, good. Yes. Cleaning staff. Yes. Um, being a coach, I would say maybe the students need to uh lean on their teammates a little bit to pick
057up their craps. You know, and I I wondered about like in my head I'm thinking as a student I see the paper towels that don't make it into the basket in front of the restroom and I'm seeing that, right? Um, and that's within the building, whereas my parent maybe doesn't see that as much cuz they're in the office, they're outside the building. So, yeah, I'm kind of thinking that there might throw your water bottles away in a trash can instead of leaving it on the wait room floor. And there might be some very teachable moments, very non-specific that we just in a generalization, but Yes. Yes. Um, so I think great data. Sure. For to be able to take a look at this and I think we'll be able to use this um moving forward.
058At the very bottom of that page, um, overall ratings all were out of five stars. um nothing less than 3.77 and all the way up to a little over four um on average of of what we're doing. So I I I'm very proud of the results. I feel like we have um some very good pieces in place. Um we also can identify some areas where we need to keep working and do better. Good information. I just wanted to share that with you. Make sure that you had that. Um I'm happy to to share uh more as needed. So please ask if there's something that comes up if I could real quick. Absolutely. Um I just think that when we send information out to students, staff, community, parents, um and we get information back, it's those
059need to be action steps. So, just a shout out to you and everybody. Um, who these things can be scary to people, especially when you're the person in charge. Um, these things can be scary when you're waiting for the result back. Um, and then you get it and you're like, well, now we got to do something about it. Um it's great to just see it as that and not be intimidated by um the information we get back but just use that as a tool uh a road map you know what I mean the fact that you're already talking about going back to the students again Laura that was great input about talking with our custodial staff who keep the they know everything that goes on they know what they find and who it's coming from
060so it might be the kids that are making the messes, you know. Yeah, that's probably and so but I'm I'm glad that we're not intimidated by the information. We just take it for what it is, figure it out, and make a plan to move forward. Yep. I appreciate that. Thank you, Miss Lewis. Um and finally, just a shout out. Um, I don't know if anyone saw on social media, but um, one of our teachers, one of our very own, was recognized by the Chamber of Commerce, Ken Colonial Bank and Countryside Manor, um, as the teacher of the month in Sunduski County. So, congratulations to U. Mrs. Elizabeth Hammacker, who is one of our orchestra, she's our orchestra teacher. Um, she does a fantastic job. She teaches all of our students six through 12 um that
061are involved with orchestra and she is a shout out. So she had a lot of students that gave me some information and a lot of other staff members that gave me some good information. So it was happy to I was very happy to make that nomination. Awesome. Um that is all I had for this evening. If you're okay, I will continue. Y All right. Item number one, we have one donation this evening um for the Krogan Learning Center. Can I get a motion to approve item one, please? So moved. Motion by Mrs. Bloom. Could I have a second? Second. Second by Mr. Nally. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mrs. Bloom. Yes. Mr. Nally, yes. Miss Layman, yes. Miss Lewis, yes. Mr. Price, yes. Motion's approved. Thank you. Moving on to student and staff achievement item
062number two. Um, Mrs. Abernathy shared a memo um that I did share with you. This is for this agenda item. This would be our Chromebooks to purchase to continue with our one to one um student device option. So, this would be for our incoming freshman next fall. Can I get a motion to approve item two, please? So, moved. Motion by Miss Lewis. Could I have a second? Second. Second by Miss Layman. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Miss Lewis. Yes, Miss Layman. Yes, Mrs. Bloom. Yes, Mr. Nally. Yes, Mr. Price. Yes. Motion's approved. Thank you. Um item number three, we have a res a couple resignations um that have we'll bring before you this evening. Um I will just let you know that uh Miss Gallatin is was hired has been hired with us since 1990.
063Um, so we wish her the very best um, as she moves over on her retirement. Um, and and just a shout out there for Haley Perez. Um, she is resigning for her student monitor position um, so that she can move forward and continue her education um, with the hopes of rejoining Fremont City Schools someday in the future as a teacher. Um item number four, we have um some appointments for C or certified staff um substitutes as well as we have a new bus driver and some support staff. And then item number five, we have some continuations um that I started last month and we're starting to see some of those teacher positions come up. Rebecca Johnson will be joining us as a math teacher here at the Fremont Middle School and Michaela Michaels will join
064us at Ross High School in our business department. Item number six where I would like to hire Joshua Matz and Bridget Smith as our summer elementary intervention coordinators. Item number seven, we have um appointments for some of our athletic and extracurricular pieces beginning with Santinia Minor and ending with Mark Schneider. Item number eight gives us two um coaching positions, uh Bailey Robinson and Nicole Weininger. I get a motion to approve items three through eight, please. So moved. Motion by Mr. Nally. Could I have a second? Second. Second by Mrs. Bloom. Any discussion? We're already talking about fall of next year, but that's great that we have people to fill those positions. All right. Roll call, please. Mr. Nally, yes. Mrs. Bloom, yes. Miss Layman, yes. Miss Lewis, yes. Mr. Price, yes. Motion's approved. Thank you.
065Um item number nine is the second part of that technology memo from last week. And this um this approval will bring us some new devices for our staff to utilize. Can I get a motion to approve item nine, please? Move. Motion by Miss Layman. Could I have a second? Second. Second by Miss Lewis. Any discussion? I would just mention that in uh finance committee last week, we did discuss uh those expenses and kind of the reasoning behind um the the time frames of how uh technology uh it's a lot of computers, but a lot of the computers that are in place have gone beyond their their life and you know I think our our staff takes care of the equipment but um you know just the technology gets old. It's a major expense but uh
066we do have the funds uh and I think it's a great investment. That's all I have. Roll call, please. Miss Layman, yes. Miss Lewis, yes. Mrs. Bloom, yes. Mr. Yes, Mr. Price. Yes. Motion's approved. Wonderful. Um item number 10 is just uh to approve the um the expense to continue to honor at celebrate our staff. Um that annual event is coming up in May. Can I get a motion to approve item 10, please? So move. Motion by Miss Lewis. Could I have a second? Second. Second by Mr. Nally. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Miss Lewis, yes. Mr. Nelly, yes. Mrs. Bloom, yes. Miss Layman, yes. Mr. Price, yes. Motion's approved. Thank you very much. All right, moving on to report of the treasur. Uh, good evening. Um, I'm going to in my report, I'm just
067going to kind of go over a mixture of the financials and some of the legislature that might be affecting it because it all kind of just ties in together. because it's this fun time of the year where the bannual budget is being discussed and quite frankly we have no clue where it's going to land. um it has gone through the governor's and from the governor's version to the house version there were major changes and now from the house's version to the senate's version I'm sure there will be major changes again and then when they come back together and duke it out over what the final is going to be I'm sure there will be more changes so welcome to the fun ride of this bianual budget I'm sure you're all excited I know I am
068I watched so any webinars over the next couple months that explain how each change will affect what is going on in school finance. And we have some great resources that put out um how I can see individually for our district how it will affect our funding. Oh, nice. Um when it comes to the state share, um one of those big factors right now is that cash balance. And I can tell you, I don't I did not see this as a positive thing, but current legislature would have this as a positive or the current um Senate or House bill for the budget would see this as a positive thing. We had on a list of 612 school districts, I believe, we had the 42nd lowest um general fund cash balance roll over. So out of that
069whole list, we were 42nd from the bottom with 20% last year at our fiscal year end um is where our the percentage of our cash rollover was in the general fund to what our expenditures are. So personally, it was a little scary for me. Um I believe we were sitting at 60 days range of true days cash. um which gets a little nerve-wracking in the months um where we don't have real estate collections and we're getting close to that time. We get a little thin on money, but we still do manage. Um in the last couple years, we've seen an increase in that cash balance and it was really thrilling and now it's getting a little scary again if they want to hold us to that very um tight line. So, I cannot express how
070worrisome the legislature is with that cash balance. So, and it's 30%. Yes, that is where it's currently sitting, which I will say it was at 25. So, 30% is an increase. Um, so we will see. Not done yet. Yeah. Well, I guess the the number that sticks with me based on the information that you had shared was that Moody's when they're looking at bond rating are looking that we have 25%. That is how you get a AAA rating for bonds which we rely on to um build the schools, our new schools and we are up for refinancing and we would like to get a um lower rate and that rating would help us but we're at 20% and they would like us to be at 25 but if you get too close to the to
071the 30 Yeah. That's why it's not a positive. You can't get you got to have this to get that. But then you're behind if you have that because it's not supposed to be there. So, because if we hit that um 30% as of right now, um they would lower real estate collections, which for cash flow purposes is a little worrisome. So, just something to keep in mind as we're talking to our legislators out there. Um, another thing that's affecting us right now is the auditor of state came out with some guidance for um, financial health indicators that are going to roll out May 1st and that is based multiple fact there's 16 different indicators multiples of those indicators guess what they rely on your cash balance. So, it's the left not talking to the right
072hand. I don't know. But my head might explode. I'm sorry, mister. Um, so it's just I got a cuz it was funny. I think Tuesday morning I had the I think the state auditors was first and then this um cash balance legislation was second. And your brain is just like complete opposites of each other. Yeah. And I will say the auditor's office as they're presenting this, they've been working on this for years. And so it's not something that they're just making up now because they hear that cash balances are what the legislators want to focus on. They've been looking at this for years trying to make sure that school districts well and this is town government entities that they audit in general have indicators so that they know if they're going to be in a
073fiscal risk other than just your 5-year forecast. So they've been developing this for years and now all of a sudden the legislaturator is focusing on us having lower cash balances and they were like during their webinar at the end they asked for questions and I think every single question was well what about these this house bill or the um budget bill and how is that going to affect it? And they're like we don't know. We will address that when it becomes law. As of right now, this is how we're rolling it out. May 1, we will make changes as necessary. So, what the question should have been, do you all talk to each other? I believe that was asked and I believe it was danced around very prettily. Probably cuz they're pulling their hair out
074too because the legislature, they're not doesn't seem like they're listening to anybody. Sure. Let alone Why would you listen to the auditor of state about financial matters? we're going to we're going to make up our own financial matters and saying oh you know how you want to have a savings account you know savings set aside as a personal income schools we don't want you to do that though so so it's been a it was a very fun um day to get to try to wrap your head around both of those and try to make some financial plans as we're working on the 5-year forecast and all that fun amazing Amazing stuff. Well, good for you and and thusly good for the district that you are staying on top of those things and you're aware of
075what's being discussed and are knowledgeable. Um, and a group of treasurers in Sunduski County um have been trying to come up with them there. We're going to reach out to Jerry Miller to kind of talk to her about what her take is on this. Each county operates different. Each school district operates differently. How Frema operates compared to Gibson, Clyde, Oldfor, any of the ones in Sunduski County is totally different because our needs are different because our kids are different. We might share similar areas, but the whole makeup of each district, the kids are just different. We all know it. Well, just population alone. Yeah, it's a huge difference. I'll go to area treasure stuff and everybody else is so different from Fremont. It's insane. And they're always like, "Well, Megan, what are you guys doing?"
076I'm like, "Well, we have to do ABCD E and F." And they're like, "Oh, yeah. You just you're different. You're different." And it's like, "Yeah." Whereas a lot of them are more rulebased. So, it's Yeah, it's fun time. So, we are going to try to get with Jerry Miller just to kind of sit down and it's not it's a lot of um a lot of other school districts do this annually with their auditor um their county auditor and I think we might want to try to do that just we haven't had to before but with all the changes hitting us. Sounds like an appropriate time. Yeah. And with the community's interest now a little more so how the real estate collections and stuff work with the districts. I think it would also be easier for
077us to answer questions, maybe see what they're getting in the auditor's office. I've worked in an auditor's office with real estate tax collection and I can tell you it's not a fun place to be. So I can sympathize with them um with the amount that people come in and are very upset. So I think being able to talk with that side as well would be beneficial. So, we don't have anything set in stone yet, but I do know that's something that there's a group of us that have been discussing. So, as we look at our March financials, um just I will point this out again. Our real estate collection was a little late. I guess the auditor's office has gotten a new financial software package and they were a little behind. I'm sure Sarah, you
078guys have run into some of it as well. And it is my least favorite time of the year right now with my allergies. So, I apologize if I keep having to um cough or sneeze. Um, so on my next meeting I'll be able to give us a better snapshot of what happened in real estate taxes for this year versus last year. I will point out though that we did receive our Nexus pipeline payment. Um, it was somewhere to the tune of $2 million. So um, yeah, thank you. I really appreciate the teamwork. get very guzzled down the one. Um so we'll we are very happy to see that. Um there is legislature coming up on how utilities may not have to pay um real estate taxes on some portion of their stuff. So we might
079sure why not. I mean everybody else is doing it right. We're doing everything else. Let's let's drop everything else in the can too and take it down the road. we might want to look in saving that for some rainy day. Um, as that we might see a decrease, some sort of decrease. Again, it's not passed yet. It's not in place, but there is some legislature looking at public utilities and potentially a decrease in that funding area for us, which with having AMP and the pipeline in there, um, our county does have some money in that game. Um, which Denise and I did reach out to our legislature, um, was it Ricky? um to voice our concern over that as it it is letters. Yeah, it is a concern of ours. What is going on? So,
080Megan, when you mention the $2 million, what is our overall budget for the school district? Uh 48 million. Yeah. So I I I think people need to understand that that when you talk about the our buildings, you talk about our staff, you talk about our bus fleets and and those dollars and two $2 million is a lot of money, but you know, it it it's not going to cover us forever. And and I think you know um I commend the you and past people uh in the administrative roles for for not dedicating those dollars before we actually got them in. Yeah. Because that was a lot of you know um predicting there that are we going to get it? Are we not? How much how much are we going to have to pay back? You
081know there's that whole game. I I shouldn't call it a game, but um you know that whole process and you know so there was some good planning and and now we look at those dollars as to you know how they best serve our children. Yep. Exactly. I think another good thing for people to understand is the average person is we have almost 500 staff members. 550 staff members. Oh okay. We have more than 500 staff members uh or employees. Yeah. and we service and feed 4,000 students every day. So, I mean, it's when you start looking at that, I mean, 550 staff um or employees, that probably ranks pretty high in Sunduski County as far as employers, employer, third. Yeah, we are one of the highest maybe. Yeah. So, I mean, probably top five in
082the county. So, when you look at a budgetwise, you know, oh yeah, it sounds like a lot of money. Let's go see what I understand we're not on the level of Prometica with all of their equipment and you know what they do there, but in the whole scheme of things when we're when we're servicing this many employees and students, um that's a big that's a big change. And then with that too, all the services that we provide students, the state wants to cut our funding. Yet again, if we have a child with autism, we welcome them with open arms and we do everything we can for them. Other types of schools don't have to allow them in their building for whatever reason. So, let's cut public funding for schools, but we have to service anyone
083who walks in our doors and needs that extra attention. And we're eager to do it. It's not that we don't want to do it, but we have to have the funds to be able to do it. To provide the appropriate services to meet their individual needs, dyslexia, ought to, whatever it is, special needs, anything on an IEP. There's so many different things that we help and service and do, but that all takes money to do that. Don't want those kids to fall through the cracks. Megan, on the financial report, we have this uh line item 0019303, which Medicaid school program. Mhm. It am I reading it right that we are in actually a deficit of spending on that? We have dollars that are just not coming in yet. What it what it shows me is
084uh our initial cash was 480,000 and shows that our expenditures have been 652,000 leaving us with a deficit of 178,000. So my question is, is that because of timing or is that um because the dollars are not flowing from the feds? I'm not sure where you're looking at right this second. Just on the actual financial report, the cash summary report. Oh, okay. Um I will say our Medicaid payments, there was a little bit of a um delay in the payments this year. So, there was um some for year-to-year comparison, there was a little bit of a um difference between March of last year and March of this year. Um Medicaid school program. It's on the first. Did you find that? Yep. I did. It's the second from the bottom, I believe. you're looking at. And
085I bring that up based on what Mr. Price was saying about, you know, the children children that need to be served that have uh different types of abilities or disabilities and and needs. and that we are serving them and if we have to those dollars are coming out of our general funds. Right. Right. And part of that has to do with some of those costs we have to pay upfront and then we're kind of making it up as the year goes on with Medicaid um reimbursement. So part of it is a timing type issue. Okay. cuz I will say, well, I can definitely make a note to dive into that come June 30th and so we can get a clearer picture on that. But I will say our Medicaid program, it is a lot of
086extra work. Some schools do not do Medicaid billing. Um, but our speech therapists, psychologists, nurses put a lot of time and effort into this and we do actually see a good chunk of money come back to the district with our Medicaid program. Um, so but yeah, that I would for the most part it's a timing difference of when we expend things. It just helps justify that we do need those services and yeah, we are committed or should be committed. Yes. Um, okay. So, let's move into expenses. The big things and expenses, you'll see our medical insurance costs are up 250,000 year to date for certified and classified employees. That's our the benefits. So that would be how much the what we call the board share, how much the district contributes to the employees benefits. We
087have what's called an insurance fund. It's the O24. It is separate from the general fund, which is what this report is on. But our and it's not singular to us. A lot of districts are seeing their medical costs go up quite a bit. So, we have had to address that in our funding of um our insurance fund. We are very fortunate in what we have is called a self-funded insurance. We pay our own claims up to a certain dollar amount. This is my baby. It has been for 10 years. So, I will try not to go too deep into it because I can talk about it way too much. Um but we have kept that fund as as in good of condition as we can. But we are seeing huge amount of claims and I
088believe I've talked at different times throughout the year about different programs we're implementing. Um Laura has heard it in our health and wellness committee different things we are implementing to try to keep those down cuz I'm sure as many people seeing out in the private sector that medical costs are just they're getting everybody. So, while we're trying to do what's best for our employees and not have them on the hook for the expenses, we're also trying to do things on our side that benefit us as well to keep that um fund in a good spot to pay those claims. And then when you talk insurance, if someone if there's a catastrophic type health issue, those do move to a different level of insurance. So, we have in a self-funded um program, we pay every claim,
089each individual person on our plan, and I don't just mean employee, I mean like every dependent up to $160,000. Once they hit that $160,000, we have what's called stop-loss insurance that kicks in and would cover those costs after that. And that includes medical and drug. Um, but every single they say every single belly button on the plan we pay up to 160,000 those claims. And belly buttons are important. That just that's always been the term that's used. So that's how we count them. Yeah. They'll ask me how many makes sense. Yep. So, but not to harp too much on my insurance fund, but like I said, that's my baby and I've been on that for years. So, while there's a 7% in the general funds cost, we've seen about an 11% increase this year in
090claims so far this year. So that's that's an expense we've always got to take into account because if that fund dries up, we're going to be dipping into the general fund, which we've already dipped a little bit this year. We're hoping we can pay that back, but it's I mean it's insurance, so little bit of a gamble. Um, we also are seeing our electrical cost up 17% for this year. I'm sure you all have seen it at home probably as well, but we aren't immune from that increase. Uh, one of the costs I will say, we have a curriculum purchase in here, which does inflate our costs a little bit, but you also have to understand that is just one larger section of curriculum. We make multiple curriculum purchases throughout our cycles. So, absolutely. in
091this particular item, you know, that you've already um approved. This is for our kindergarten through grade five. Um every one of those students and teachers will be impacted by this. So, it is a it is a very large curriculum and will be uh in place for a 5-year period. So, that did make our expenses up a little bit this month. It was Pam came to me. She's our accounts payable. She pays all our bills and she's like, "Megan, I don't am I writing a check for this?" I'm like, "No, I will wire it from the bank." So, she's like, "$5 million? That's a really large amount." Cuz while she pays the bills, she doesn't usually hit those millions of dollars. That's my payroll department. So, she was a little nervous on that one. Or no,
092not 5 million. 500,000. Thank you. Thank Jesus. There was I was going to say that's there was another purchase that she came to me on. Yeah. But um yeah, so anytime there's that significant of a dollar amount, she's always like, "Megan, are we sure?" I'm like, "Yes, no one is scamming us. I promise." It's good to double check. That's right. She is my She is my fraud girl. She is all over it. She thinks everything is a scam, which I like it. Good thing to have. Mhm. Um but the good news is with real estate um we got a larger deposit in March. So our true days cash got bumped up a little bit. So for the end of March we are sitting at 111 days. Um which I personally am always happy with. So
093and just a little bit more on that cash balance. I just want to make sure everybody understands that is at the end of the fiscal year and that is just your general fund. So that's what they're which is what this report is looking at. We always report on the um cash balance for month end every month so that we are always keeping community and everybody knowledgeable where we sit with that. Um cuz part of the finance committee this month, we did come up with a cash balance policy so that we can communicate to our um everyone that we have parameters that we operate with that cash balance. We don't want it to get too low, but we also don't want it to get too high. Um, we want to be good with good stewards with
094our money and we understand that these are taxpayer dollars. None of us here are exempt from paying taxes and I'm sure it hurts just as much. So, we want to make sure that we are using those cash dollars or those tax dollars effectively and that our community knows where that their money is being put towards to good use. So, I don't know that I've ever talked this much. Swear. Okay, we can move on to approvals. So, item 11, um, financial report. Can I get a motion to approve item 11, please? So moved. Motion by Mr. Nally. Could I have a second? Second. Second by Miss Lewis. Any discussion? Thank you, Megan. I just want to say thank you. I think you're I don't think it's going to matter what uh changes. You're always going to
095find that balance in there. I think that's what it's all about, that fine line. So, you're doing a great job. Thank you. Mhm. I'm roll call, please. Mr. Nally, yes. Miss Ms. Lewis. Did you second that? Did I? Yes. Mrs. Blue? Yes. Miss Layman? Yes. Mr. Price? Yes. Motion's approved. Was that three hours? No. Miss Lewis doesn't have a clue where she's at, but that's okay. For a second, can you help her out, please? Not the first time, kids. We know. I know. It's usually second, fourth Mondays of the month. Item number 12, we have a appropriation change for athletic um equipment line. Just to give you a little bit of information that is for um the purchase of bleachers that are not permanent. Did pay attention. Look at me. Um these bleachers will be
096housed in our auxiliary gym at Ross High School. um we have need during some athletic events where um there could be of a need and we seating would be very helpful. When we built the auxiliary gym, it was very much um first prescribed it's as an instructional classroom. Um so we do teach wellness classes all day every day. Um and that is the primary reason to have um that auxiliary gym. It kept it keeps our instruction off the main gym, uh, our competition gym. Um, but we do have overflow for some of our athletic events. And within our league sometimes, um, for volleyball, for example, they may play a JV game um, on the competition gym, but they may also have a freshman game going and some of the other schools in the NLL might
097have that going on in an Ox gym. So, it will give us a little bit of flexibility. Um, we decided that we didn't really want those to be permanent in there. Um, because within our wellness classes, children are moving all around. Um, so we will have some opportunity to store them and bring them out when needed. Right. So, is this an addition to the budget for that department? It is not a general fund. um budget item it I wanted to point that out since this is strictly an athletic need. We wanted and looking we made sure that the athletic fund would could handle this and they do they have a sufficient balance to support this purchase. We felt that it was not that it was a good idea to have the purchase come out of
098that fund. And since it's not something we had planned for necessarily at the beginning of the year, but address the need midy year, we are increasing their budget line to um be able to pay for this expense. The monies are there. They just don't have them immediately available in their line. Your protection will for that with athletics. We don't fully um appropriate all the funds that are available in their cash account. Um so Mr. Burnt, I will give him a lot of credit. He budgets pretty much he knows pretty close what he's going to spend each year out of that athletic fund. Um, and like I said, this was a midyear kind of, oh, hey, we think we need this, so we had to, um, appropriate a little differently. Obviously, there's great good very good
099justification for that. Hosting the wrestling alone is probably midy year. That makes sense. That all the folding chairs that had to go out for parents to watch. when you have two mats going on in there. That's a lot of parents who want to watch their kids and yeah, when we had our wrestling tournament, there was a lot of folding chairs that had to be set up. So, that'll be great. Plus, you'll be at bleacher level, so you'll be able to see better when you're sitting behind instead of just everybody on the floor. So, I think it'll be a nice addition. Yeah, much needed for stuff like that. So, y All right. Can I get a motion to approve item 12, please? So moved. Motion by Mrs. Bloom. Could I have a second? Second. Second by
100Mr. Nally. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mrs. Bloom. Yes. Mr. Nally, yes. Miss Layman, yes. Miss Lewis, yes. Mr. Price, yes. Motion's approved. All right. Moving on to board member communications. Uh, Lori. Well, thank you to uh little Miss Giana for her uh pledge and Tony for his that was really neat to see. I like when he comes in and gives all the information on what he does cuz there's a lot and it's really neat to see it and I'm sure the kids benefit huge from it and it's pretty when they did that summer one that was really cool. So, but I don't really have a whole lot more to say. Laura. Um, I just want to let you guys know last week was a busy week for myself and kind of for my workplace.
101We had the chance to connect with the um younger kids, uh, the kindergarteners. Actually, let let me take this back. Last Tuesday, we had the first graders, all all three first graders from Atinson come in and the teachers. Um, they actually read to our residents. Um, they read a bunny book. So, we kind of paired them up. We had all the residents uh strategically placed in the dining room. We paired them up at different tables and they read to them and then we had um little Miss Julia, she came up and actually read through the microphone to everybody so everybody got the gist of the story and so I could hear it too. And it was just fun. It was fun to hear the laughter. It was just so man and the residents loved it,
102you know? It's it's just it's that connection there. They're missing it. So, it was so fun to invite him in. So, we did that and then um and then we had a quick bingo game. They had some Easter treats out of it and then before we knew it, it was time for him to leave. So, it went so quick, but it went so smooth and it was so fun. And I I I know the kids enjoyed it and I know the residents did too and the teachers. So, it was all a plus. So that happened on Tuesday and then Thursday we had some of the National Honor Society kids come in and they helped us in the evening for a special um bingo. So but they were there to help this time. They didn't actually
103play the game. The kids played on Tuesday, the younger kids. So Thursday night the older kids played and or they didn't play, they helped. So we did refreshments again and they helped and they and also really enjoyed uh you know just the fellowship and everything was going on in there and they they want to help again and I think that was mostly juniors and seniors. So I don't know that was just a it was a different it was a difference between having the older and the younger but but we all enjoyed all of them. So I just want to thank everybody coming out to spend time with us and I hope we can do it again soon. [Music] um to our students, particularly our upper classmen, um our juniors and our seniors. The theme for
104the rest of the school year is make good choices. Uh we have prom this weekend. Um we want you guys to have fun. We want you to make memories. We want you to um just make it the best experience that you can. Um but we want to encourage you to do so safely. Um parents, we all have a a huge responsibility in that as well. Um so make sure that if you're hosting um after prom activities, um do so responsibly. um provide a safe um drug and alcohol-f free environment for for our kiddos um to our seniors. Uh senioritis is real. Uh it's a it's a real thing. Been there, done that probably not as elegantly as I should have. Um this is the time where you feel like ah smooth sailing, we're good. Um,
105you feel that way as a senior, but it's really time for you to button things up, buckle down, make sure that you have Little Giants's pathway done. Um, make sure that you have all your graduation requirements met. Um, you definitely should be talking to your guidance counselor um about anything that could get in the way. The last thing we want is for somebody to not be able to uh walk with their class because requirements um haven't been met. So, keep chugging along and and finish the year strong. Done. I actually have nothing this evening. All right. Um thank you to Gianna for coming in leading the pledge. Thank you to Mr. Walker for coming in and then giving us information, giving uh the community information on on what we're doing. We're not just teaching out
106of textbooks. There's a whole lot going on at Fremont schools. So, um kids are in a good place here and there's a lot of information for them to make the best decision for themselves, for their future. So, um I know we've hit a lot on legislature and budget and everything else, but to the public to um anyone who wants to and I know I go on little rants and everything, but um get involved even if that is just getting a hold of our representative or our senator um and let them know or be informed on on what this looks like for public schools. I know we talk about it and we have a little bit more information about stuff than the average person does, but the disparity of what a public school is held to
107compared to um a community school, a you name it, any you know, a charter school, a nonpublic, whatever. There's like 20 different categories of schools in the state of Ohio. It's ridiculous. and they're all at different levels of what the responsibility is. Um, public schools is at the very highest of of being held responsible for everything. So, um, get educated a little bit and get your voice out there, especially when your kids are in the public schools, not just Fremont, but anywhere across the state. Um, it's very important for these people that we elect to understand what constituents really need. I think too much of it is brought up out of political reasons more than what's good for our kids or our families and our communities. Um I think too much is gets politicized and
108it's it it that shouldn't be. So but anyway um with that can I have a motion for adjournment, please? Moved. Motion by Mrs. Bloom. Could I have a second? Second. Second by Miss Leman. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mrs. Bloom, yes. Miss Layman, yes. Miss Lewis, yes. Mr. Ny, yes. Mr. Price, yes. Motion's approved. Meetings adjourned. [Music]