001All right, I would like to welcome everyone and call the order uh call the meeting to order for Tuesday, January 13, 2026. This is our organizational meeting and work session and we will begin with the oath of office. So, Mr. Berdine, >> most of you have seen me do this know that I'm not usually very formal, but support. United States [applause] Yeah. Take some pictures. >> [applause] >> I always have it. If I need a bail out there. >> Mr. Berdine, will you please call the role? >> Mr. Bowler >> here. Mrs. Brackett >> here. >> Mrs. Burke >> here. >> Mrs. Rainey here. >> Mrs. Stein >> here. >> All right. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for
002which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we are now going to do the election for president for this next calendar year of 2026. So, I will now open the floor for any nominations for the office of president. I'd like to nominate Courtney. Um, she's been vice president of our board for the past two years. I think her experience in that role and preparation for that role is important. um along with her collaborative nature with our superintendent and our administrators um I think it makes logical progression based on the needs of our board at this time. >> I'd like to nominate Kasha Bracket uh over the last two years watching Kasha work and ask very thoughtful questions along with her deep ties to the community and experience both
003in the schools and with Bath Township. I think she'd make an excellent president. the nominations. >> Okay. Do we >> So the procedure then would be with with multiple nominations. No seconds are required. Person could nominate him or herself. That hasn't occurred. Um, so the next step would be to request a motion, a second to close nominations and direct the treasurer to call the role for each of you then to cast your vote for the nominee. Nominee you would choose for that office position and then I will record those and then majority wins in that situation. >> Thank you. I actually meant to ask you to do that before we talked and I forgot. >> We got it done though. >> So thank you for that. Um okay. So can we um have a motion
004to close nominations? >> Second. >> Okay. So then I'll just follow the roll call as it was listed on the agenda. Mr. Bowler, >> I'll vote for Kasha Bracket. >> Mrs. Bracket, >> I'll vote for myself. I'll vote for Kasha Bracket, >> Mrs. Rainey, >> Courtney Stein, >> and Mrs. Stein. >> I would vote for myself. >> So, Mrs. Bracket will assume the presidency on the 3-2 vote. So, we could do that oath of office at this time and then you could take over. >> Okay. >> You want to Brenda, you want another picture? right here. >> She always wants a picture. United States. >> [applause] >> And then we Yeah. Koshi would assume conducting the meeting from this point forward. >> Sure. >> And then we would essentially repeat >> what we just did.
005>> You can nominate. You can have a second. Not required. You can nominate yourself. Um, if there's one nominee, there's a particular resolution I'll ask you to pass. If there's more than one nominee, we'll ask you to pass something similar to what you just did. >> Okay. So, I'd like to open the floor for election or nominations of the vice president of the River School Board for the year of 2026. >> I would like to nominate Natalie. Um, I have worked with Natalie the last two years. She has experience on this board, which I think is important. I I do and have served on other boards and um there's nothing might like the River School Board. Um, so I do think that that is important to me. Um, having experience on this board. So I
006would nominate Natalie. She's very thorough and um, very diligent and detail oriented, which I appreciate. I'd like to nominate Jen Burke. Sorry. >> Hi. I'd like to nominate Jen Burke. >> Other nominees? If not, I would request then per Robert's rules, you would have a a motion and a second to close nominations and direct the treasur call the role for each member to cast a vote for their nominee. >> Okay. Anybody like to motion to close the votes? Motion. >> Second. >> I'll follow the same roll call as the beginning of the meeting again. Mr. Bowler Jennifer Burke Mrs. Bracket >> Jennifer Burke >> Mrs. Burke >> I'll vote for myself >> Mrs. Rainey >> myself >> Mrs. Stein >> Natalie Rainey >> so again a 32 vote Mrs. B elected as vice president for
007the board and we would do another please back up here. Yeah, I just got to get my notes here. >> And I'll be happy with me if I forot. >> It's impressive you do it for me every time. support of the United States. ready. Now, like to move on to Roman numeral 8, regular meetings for 2026. Um, it's recommended that the board of education set the time, place, and dates for its regular meeting, regular 2026 meetings. Um, I just had a quick question on this. Do we not set an organizational meeting a year in advance because we do the work session? Okay. Thank you. >> Are we doing a motion in a second for these? I'm assuming. Oh, sorry. No, I'm just That's okay. Questions are good. But do these get a motion in a
008second? >> You can cover all of I It's really your call if you want to do a consent agenda process on or if you want to do each one individually. I don't have a preference. I'll record whatever occurs. >> I think last year we did each one individually. So I'd like to maybe stick with what we did last year if that's okay. >> That works well. >> I'll make the motion for this one. >> Second. >> Okay. Roll call. >> Yes, please. >> Mrs. Brackett. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stein. >> Yes. >> Mr. Yes. Mrs. Burke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rain. >> Yes. >> Roman numeral nine. Bylaws and policies. It's recommended that the board of education adopt the existing revised and slrevised policies for its own operation and the operation of the school district
009in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 3313.2. Details can be found um in the district policies that are listed online and available at the board office for anybody that would like those. Any questions? Can I get a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Mrs. Burke. >> Yes. >> Mr. Bowler. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bracket. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rainey. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stein. >> Yes. >> Okay. Roman numeral 10. Established service fund. It's recommended that the board of education certify the official enrollment of the district at 2,834 students as of October 2025 and establish a service fund of $7,500 for the purpose of defraying board member expenses actually incurred in the per performance of their duties in accordance with Ohio Revised Code. Um I'd just like to comment that this does not include the
010salaries that are paid to the board members. This is just additional expenses for things like conferences and meetings or such gifts gifts. >> Yeah, >> that amount is well below statute. Statute would allow a district this size to be at $20,000. That amount is far below that and we don't even spend this, >> right? Didn't spend. >> Any other questions? >> Did you already do a motion second and I didn't record it? >> No. Can I get a motion and a second? >> I'll motion second. Hold on. Mrs. Stein, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rainey, >> yes. >> Mr. Bowler, >> yes. >> Mrs. Bracket, >> yes. >> Mrs. Burke, >> yes. >> Okay. On to Roman numeral 11. OSBA liaison. It's recommended that the board of education appoint members as the river local school district
011board of education's liaison to Ohio school boards association for the 2026 calendar year as required by OSBA. Um just to comment that we're members of OSBA. So therefore we're voting members of OSBA. We have to have a liaison that attends the meeting at the annual conference um to determine any changes in bylaws of the Ohio School Board Association. So that is what this is for. So you nominate a um you appoint a member um and then a a backup just in case that person can't come to represent your district. So um this one do we open it up for nominations or I just appoint people? Okay. I didn't know. >> Your choice. It's not really a nomination process. It be >> it's just an appointment. >> Volunteer volunte. [laughter] >> Mr. Bowler, would you like
012to take over this role? I'm in. >> Okay. >> And then, um, I'll serve as the backup for this role. I've done that for a couple years now. So, if you can't attend, I'll fill in for that. Okay. Any questions, comments on that one? Okay. Can I get a motion in a second, please? >> Motion. >> Second. Mr. Mr. When you're ready. >> Mrs. Stein, >> yes. >> Mrs. Burke, >> yes. >> Mr. Bowler, >> yes. >> Mrs. Brackett, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rain, >> yes. >> Okay. Roman numeral 12 standing authorizations. This will be found in attachment two in the meeting packet. It's recommended that the board of education adopt the following standing authorizations for the 2026 calendar year. to authorize the treasurer to request advances on the collection of various taxes acrewing to
013the Revier local school district in accordance with Ohio revised code. B to authorize the treasurer to invest available funds at the most productive interest rates in keeping with the board's investment policy. C to authorize the treasurer to pay invoices when due, especially when discounts apply within the parameters of the appropriations measure as adopted. D to authorize the superintendent to employ personnel and accept accept resignations as needed during the calendar year 2026. Such employments and resignations will be reviewed by the board of education at its next scheduled meeting and when ratified will be deemed effective as the date and time of superintendent's acceptance. E authorizes superintendent or treasurer to utilize the following law firms. Square Pat and Bogs, Pebble and Wagner, Fischer and Phillips, Gingo and Bear Law and Gambala Mclofflin and Pakora. >> Any questions,
014comments? >> These are all existing relationships with these law firms. >> And is there like is there any particular specialty or reason we use one law firm over another for each of these? Like [clears throat] what do we use the various law firms for? >> Yeah. So the different law firms will help us like with special education. So Ryan Gmbala with Gmbala Mclofflin Cora works with us on that one. The Pebble and Wagner is our policies. So Phillips Phillips we minimally use any longer. They used to handle the tax valuation complaints, property tax exemption issues for the district. We have one last situation they're working on hand, but it's minimal minimal cost. They're rarely used. >> Thank you. >> Squire Pat and Bogs is our general counsel. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Any other questions,
015comments? Okay. You got a motion in a second, please? >> Motion. >> Second. >> Mr. Bowler, was that was that Jeff on the first? Yeah. >> Thank you. >> [snorts] >> Mr. Bowler, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rainey, >> yes. >> Mrs. Brackett, >> yes. >> Mrs. Burke, >> yes. >> Mrs. Stein, >> yes. >> Okay. Roman numeral 13, fiscal year 2027 budget. This will be found in attachment three in the meeting packet. The treasurer recommends Oh, is this you? Are you supposed to do this and say you recommend? >> Then I'll make a comment. >> Okay. The treasurer recommends that the board of education approve the fiscal year 27 budget as detailed. >> Want to go ahead and do a motion second and I'll >> Sure. Can I make a motion? I'll make the motion
016on this. I'll second. [snorts] >> So for all of my career until tonight, I've pretty much said that this document is essentially a worthless document except for setting tax rates for bond millage that you need to retire debt. tonight. I think I'll still say that, but I don't know if next year I will say that because of the property tax reform legislation that was recently enacted into law. One of those bills, and I forget which number is on it, um it allows these county budget commissions to reduce assessed millage amounts if if it deems in its sole authority that a district is carrying excessive cash balances. I don't agree with that, but it doesn't matter whether I agree or not because that's the law. Um, and that's what's been passed. Summit County to date has
017not been proactive. Madina County and Aeros has been a little more aggressive on these types of issues. If you go out um east side, I'm going to forget the county right now. Ashtabila County, they're they've been a little more aggressive on some of these issues to date. Sum it has not, as I said, but I don't know what the future holds. So, you know, I just I base this thing off the five-year forecast for general fund. Our other funds, they don't really matter in the scope of what goes on here. Um the the debt schedule that I list there is certainly important because that's what we know our obligations for principal and interest on our building bonds are. So, we need to have the revenue to retire those appropriately. But the general fund becomes maybe
018concerning in the future depending upon how aggressive of an approach and what type of threshold that our county puts on what they deem to be an excessive balance. It's anybody's guess at this point. It may not change. We'll get into the forecast in a couple months probably or next month or the month after that. We'll talk more about that and I'll spend a little more time on the impact of some of those bills because those bills did not help us as a school district is they did not hurt us as badly as I once predicted. They [snorts] might, but they did not help us at all. They did hurt us uh in the millions of dollars over the forecast life. So, it's it's a big hit for a couple of reasons. So, I won't digress
019any further, but I'll just say that the budget to date has been somewhat meaningless except for bond retirement in my eyes. I don't know what the future holds with that going forward. But this is a good document. I'm ready to hit send whenever assuming you approve it. I'll hit send and it'll be submitted. >> Just a question. Have you had an opportunity to meet with anybody from Summit County to discuss their thoughts or feelings on this new law allowing them to have that power? >> I have not met with them. I've only received some minimal communication. >> Okay. >> Um but it just doesn't at this point in time seem to be high on their radar. But I, you know, I never know what that threshold becomes. Like I don't think ours is excessive because
020we're less than 50% of our annual budget. So even when legislation was being considered to that, there was a point where we were at 30%, then we're at 40, then we were at 100. I'm not we're close enough to 40, frankly, that I don't think we're egregious in any sense at all. >> Um, but I don't know what the future holds with that. They've been they've had some they've had a lot of staffing transitions at Summit County Fiscal Office as well. So, I think they're working through it. And all of these county fiscal offices are I'm trying to analyze the impact for my district, right? They're trying to analyze the impact and get out tax bills for all of their districts. And I think there was recent media communication that the first half bills are
021going to go out based on current law. And then people will get a credit. So one of the articles I read said, don't if you're a person who pays your taxes when you get the first bill, you pay it for the whole year. I haven't met one of those people yet, by the way, but it said it was like 30% of the people in Ohio that do that. I didn't know that was a thing. So, um, if you're one of those people, you might not want to do that and then wait to see what your credit is. You may want to just pay the half and wait. So, it sounds like the second half is going to be a correction for the first half. Not a criticism like I mean, this thing just passed and
022was signed into law late. There's no way they could have done it. The work that I've seen done with our forecasting software company that we use trying to analyze the impact of these bills, those folks are unbelievable. They're in They're working together with people from the Legislative Service Commission office to try to get this right. Um, but there's just a lot a lot of details to it. And no two districts are the same. I mean, you know, we're a 20 mil floor district with a substitute levy. Our impacts are different than somebody who doesn't have either one of those situations. So, when you think about all the municipalities across the county, not just school districts, it's it's a tremendous task upon them. So, we'll get more information as we move forward. I don't currently anticipate
023anything with the balance issue, but if that position of the county changes, we will adjust accordingly. You may recall in the last forecast, we started to put in there the spending reserve allocation and a general fund that you're able to do because they're theoretically working, at least in the legislation, they were working off of the line with that those funds not being considered as cash balance, which is also interesting, but we'll play by the rules. So that works to our advantage to take some of that balance out. So we put that into the last forecast. We'll continue that this time, but we'll learn more about that one going forward. It's the longest explanation I've ever given [laughter] about this budget, I will tell you. So for that, I apologize. But it is so different after
02440 years >> of me doing this. I just did never anticipated that they would say you don't really need all that money because you have money. that just doesn't make sense to me from a planning standpoint. So, >> yeah, >> okay, >> we'll work through it. Y >> definitely. Any other comments or questions? >> Okay, >> Mrs. Brackett. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Burke? >> Yes. >> Mr. Bowler? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rainey? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stein? >> Yes. >> Thank you all very much. >> All right. Now, we'll convene to the work session. And we do not have any presentations this evening. Um on the board of agenda or board of education's agenda, um we have two items. The first is the Ohio School Board Association annual membership dues. These can be found in
025attachment four in the meeting packet. It's recommended that the board of education renew their Ohio school boards association membership as detailed. And then I'll take a consent for the other one as well. Number two is legal assistance fund for the Ohio School Board Association. This can be found in attachment five. It is recommended that the board of education renew their membership in the Ohio School Board Association legal assistance fund as detailed as well. So a motion >> second anyone >> second. >> Thank you. >> Any questions, comments? All right. When you're ready, >> Mrs. Stein. >> Yes. >> Mr. B. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Bracket. >> Yes. Mrs. Burke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Rainey. >> Yes. >> Treasurer's agenda is next. Mr. Baddine, anything else to say? >> I don't have anything for this tonight.
026Nope. I've talked enough. [laughter] >> All right. Mr. White, anything for the superintendent? >> No, nothing additional. >> Okay. >> Not at this time. Thanks. >> Okay. Um, Roman numeral 19 on the agenda isformational and discussion items. Um, on your agenda, you're going to see that we have a regular board meeting next week on January 20th. That'll be here in the library at 5:30. Um, it is missing that we have a Thursday special meeting and that starts at 3:00 at the I knew that just testing. Yep. [laughter] >> I wasn't. >> Um, 3:00 at the administration offices. >> 3 to 7. Um, and that will have an executive session at that meeting as well. Any comments on that agenda item? All right. That one >> at this point, there's no action to follow after that
027executive session on Thursday. >> Okay. And then this evening, there's no reason to go into executive session. >> So, we'll just review the agenda. >> Yep. Review the agenda. >> Okay. Right, Mr. Bite. >> All right, so for the 20th, we'll start with pledge of allegiance with led by Richfield students and then go into a couple recognitions. January is Ohio school board recognition month. So, we'll be recognizing all of you for your service. Yeah. And then we have a January student recognitions. We'll have a list there from all of our buildings at that point when the agenda goes out. Um, at this time, no items for the board of education's agenda. Uh, Mrs. Burke, will you have an update for us? >> I will. I'll have an update from two meetings just because of how
028the timing of everything fell out. >> Very good. All right. And then we'll go to Mr. Bdine's agenda. Thank you. My first five items are ones that you are very used to seeing. Well, two of you aren't. Well, Jen's been coming for a long time, so she's seen them for a while, too. um minutes, financial report, the uh then and now purchase orders, donations, and then asset deletions that were presented to us. There's one one item, the authorization item six is is unique. Um Ben Chrisman memorial scholarship fund was established. There were some funds that came to rever schools that we have deposited minimal amount on ours. A larger amount went through river schools foundation. Rever schools foundation that's not part of their 501c3 charitable exemption through the Internal Revenue Service. So the Chrisman family
029looked at several different options for some like Akran Community Foundation, different other groups like that to possibly uh handle those funds. They've decided on River Schools at least for now. Um so we've worked with them to get this set up and in place. the monies were transferred from RSF to us. I think January 2nd this came in. Um so one of the things I would I'm requesting here the one thing I'm requesting here is to allocate prorated monthly interest earnings to that account. Um they've been able to receive that from RSF. That's fairly standard. This will start out in $100,000 range. So it's a larger scholarship fund. It's not just an annually funded one. Not to minimize those. Those are also greatly appreciated, right? >> But this one will have a little bit more financial
030backing to it. So >> Mr. Chrisman and I have talked a lot, emailed even more, but um he understands that it's based upon our portfolio. We're limited in what we can invest because we're defined by statute what that can be. So, you know, we're not going to be out in stocks and bonds and things like that or money market funds. So we'll do what's within the allowed parts of our portfolio and then we will we have months that are better based upon maturities than other months and whatever that is their the percentage of the overall balance of the district that the Christmas scholarship fund is they will receive a prorated amount of interest based on what we earn in that particular month credited to them. We do that currently with the endowment fund. um that's
031required by statute fun 08 and then we do it with the food service fund because when I came here we didn't because they didn't ever have a balance and because they receive federal funds you're required by law to do that so we've made that adjustment recently so those would be the three then that would be receiving funds all other funds acrew to the general fund >> thank you >> so that's somewhat unique so I wanted to explain it so people understood the background but I don't know the Chrisman are still looking at other options in the future um to possibly use something that could be a bit more aggressive. I'm not offended by that. I know what our limitations are. We will abide by them. They serve us well uh to protect taxpayer funds and
032Brian understood that. We'll we'll do what they want in the future, but it this could be something 10 years from now still here. It could be a year from now. It's not. So, I don't know where it will land. >> Thank you. All right. On my agenda, we have a co-curricular non-athletic supplemental contract for the Richfield Elementary School for computer coordinators being split between two of our teachers there, Miss Baith and Mrs. Delora. And then we have these athletic supplemental contracts for really for our spring sports. And you can see a list there with list of our coaches, head coaches, DB coaches that we'll be considering. Any questions on those? >> All right. Number two, we have our classified personnel resignation for retirement. Spoke with Mr. Nightbach today. AJ working on still getting bus drivers
033and substitute bus drivers for us as we're looking at three retirements. I think you shared this. Yeah. This spring. Right now, we have two drivers. We just need one more. So the um resignation there for Hannah has said she's switching careers. I understand she's earned her STA. So is moving on to the nursing field. Yeah. Then a change of positions at letter C for some of our classified staff. Mr. Hill will be taking our cashier position there at Bath Elementary School. Right. as a food service worker for us. And then Holly Quaos uh is switching over to Bath from Redfield. All right. Playground monitor. All right. We have new hires at letter D classified. Ashley McClung. She's will be a lunch aid for us. Playground monitor. And then Rachel intensive needs aid. Any questions on
034those? All right. Letter E. We have substitutes. We have four substitutes there. Help us out in our aid positions and monitoring positions. Letter F is our supplemental contracts for classified staff. So, we have one wrestling volunteer we're adding to this list for help us out with wrestling. And then you'll see a list there for spring sports as well. Any questions on any of those? >> All right. student services. Number three, Red Oak Behavioral Health Agreement. Uh earlier in the year, we've learned from Green Leaf that they would be pulling out of their service for us where they meet with some of the students in our buildings to make it easier for families to set up those appointments. Green Leaf has pulled out Red Oak is going to fulfill that need for us. They're coming in
035to take that opportunity to meet with students during the school day um to help families just schedule and make those appointments when they can. >> Right. Sorry. >> It will not be a cost to us as a district. That's something where they charge the families and work directly with the families. It won't cost us for that. >> Which buildings are they going to provide services? >> I'll clarify for sure, Mr. Connelly, but my understanding would be all four. At least for sure. The high school, middle school, and bath is where I know Green Leaf was working. So, I can confirm that. >> Jen, I think you were Mr. White, we were at the Richfield PT meeting this morning, and I I Mrs. Mata and Mrs. Pniki, I believe Richfield, I don't want to overspeak. Yeah,
036>> but they spoke of it >> I think there as well I believe confirm but they were speaking >> right oh you right Mrs. Campbell was there too. >> Thank you. >> And that's just the remainder of this year and then we can evaluate or that's just the contract for this year then. >> Correct. >> All right. Then number four, other business just with Ken State University for college credit plus for our students taking advantage of those opportunities. >> Right. >> And then we'll haveformational items for next week and questions and comments from the public as per usual. And I did those out of order. So now we'll talk about there's a Thursday meeting and then a meeting next week as well. >> Sorry about that. >> That's all right. >> Any other questions, comments
037before we adjourn? All right. Motion. >> Motion for adjournment. I'll move that. >> Second. >> Courtney, will you second? >> Mrs. Burke. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Stein, >> yes. >> Mr. Bowler, >> yes. >> Mrs. Brackett, >> yes. >> Mrs. Rainey, >> yes. >> All right. 608, we are adjourned. Thank you everybody for coming. >> Have a good night. Thank you.