March 12, 2026 Board of Education Work Session & Regular Meeting

001So, notice of this meeting was given in accordance with the provisions of Bylaw 0164B of the Riverside Local Board of Education, which was adopted in accordance with Section 1.450 of the ORC in the Ohio Administrative Procedures Act. Can you call roll, please? >> Yes, ma'am, I can. Ms. Granensky? >> Here. >> Ms. Grassi? >> Here. >> Mr. Aidino? >> Here. >> Ms. Breister? >> Here. >> Mr. Byers? >> Here. >> All right. Can we stand for the Pledge of Allegiance? >> Yes. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> On behalf of the board, I'd like to welcome all students, staff, parents, and interested community members to the tonight's Board

002of Education meeting. I'd like to remind everyone that this is a meeting of the Board of Education held in public for the purpose of conducting the school district's business, and is not to be considered a public community meeting. There is time for public comment during the meeting in the public participation section on the agenda. I make a motion to approve >> uh I wanted to Do I do it before that or after? >> Uh do what >> Um to ask um certain agenda items >> Yes, you do it now. >> Do it now? Okay. So, I wanted to ask if item F under personnel um could be voted on separately. >> So, you're not You're asking for it to be removed from the consent agenda? >> Yes. Just to have it voted on separately. >>

003We will have it pulled and voted on separately. So, whoever's personnel >> A 3 >> We'll just pull It'll be >> A through and then F with a separate vote. Okay. And then do we need to remove Is item C in the same situation uh toward the end under board business? >> Um it's a separate vote. >> vote. >> So each of those items >> are separate votes. >> Is a separate vote. It's not A through C. >> No. >> Okay, so then I don't need to change the minutes. Okay, thank you. >> I said it was a separate vote when I read that. >> Um just read one motion with A through E and then the second motion with >> Okay. Great. Right, so I make a motion to approve the agenda as listed

004with the adjustment of removing item F from the consent agenda to be voted on separately. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Ms. Grassi. And can I get roll, please? >> Mr. Allen. >> Mr. Byers. >> I. >> Ms. Brewster. >> I. >> Mr. Idena. >> I. >> Mrs. Grassi. >> I. >> Mrs. Krenensky. >> I. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> That brings us to our work session. Um so it's an overview and discussion regarding the funding options available to the board directed by policy 6234 and I'm going to turn it over to our treasurer. >> As you can see, we're looking at the four and the T. Thinking about changing the S to a small S. This is part of the presentation. >> Are we going to have to agree on the other side of

005the screen? >> No, we're good on the other side of the screen. We've just got to >> I was going to tell Bryson to be ready. Let's get everybody engaged. >> There we go. And then we're going to do a little bit of There we go. >> So, as you all know, time is an issue. So, obviously we'll stop at any point a board member chooses and answer a question. But, um uh in a in a meeting just the other day, Mr. Adjei-Mensah talked about meetings that he runs where he tries to answer the questions that you may have and stop the question essentially. Um so, we are trying to do that. So, we've talked about this before, but it's just a timeline. If the board chooses to be on the ballot this November, that

006is the timeline that we have to that we'd like to hit. Some of those are have to's. Uh the um 110 days out or 100 days out for board resolution to proceed. And the copy of the tax resolution to the county auditor, that's non-negotiable. As is the August 5th filing deadline is also non-negotiable. Those have to be met or you will not be on the ballot. So, whatever that that may look like. And I'm going to turn it over to um Dr. Ritena to talk about uh what we've been working on on cost containment and reduction considerations that um are a little bit uh less I think less focused on. The easy The easy thing is cut staff. That's the easy answer. And that may have to happen depending on how things proceed, but we're

007we're a ways from that in my opinion. >> So, I think um to to start, I think the first and foremost really is to like what put us in the position we're at is the piggyback. Um so, really to advocate for the commissioners and the three commissioners who are there um for the decision regarding the homestead and the owner-occupied tax relief. If we could work to advocate for that to not continue um for the foreseeable future, uh that puts us We're still deficit spending, but that will move us back into where our original timeline is, which actually the piggyback moved us up a year. Um for all for all intents and purposes. So, that's That's the impact. That's uh practically $1.6 million a year that uh we were told and we didn't plan for. Um

008and we we are planning for things that are 4 and 5 years out. So, having that advocacy with our county commissioners uh is is incredibly important. Some of the other things that were uh some of the other bills by the state in terms of um property tax, were those are those are tenable. Those have some some hold harmless agreements for the first year so we can plan and then have some um you know, real real conversations and and do or do diligence and planning. This one was not the case at all. It was It was done rather quickly. And and the impact uh in the first year is 800,000 and then obviously the 1.6 moving forward cuz it's on the tax year and not on the fiscal year. So, it does It does make an

009impact and kind of like I said, accelerates us up to where we need to be. When you talk about uh cost, there's there's always contractual reductions that we can look at. Um we Over time, contract language with unions or vendors can become unnecessary and effective. Uh one of the things that's in there, and just giving some examples, um we do have the employee retirement incentive. Uh that doesn't need to be collectively bargained. That um you know, when we talk about bargaining, that's not for 2 years out. That's not necessarily something we can do right now that will change that. Um nor I think I think that is something that, in terms of overall cost, we need to really study that. Does it make a difference? We do have April 1 language in there. Um and

010so we're coming up on that. Let's really have a good study this year to see how many retirements we get after the April 1 to really kind of say, "Is this working? Being effective?" The reason to have it is um when you have a retirement reduction, you know, of a of a high salary schedules person, you replace them with somebody who is, you know, significantly less expensive on the salary schedule. If you have that April 1st date to get that good recruiting, so then you can bring them in with another high-quality Um and ultimately gives them cost savings in the end. Uh looking at cancer um adjusting the village representative contract, uh we've had some conver- conversations about that in terms of what our owners rep costs us um in the long run and how

011can we adjust that to be more friendly, I think. And then looking at graduation expenditures or sourcing possibilities. Our graduation is something special and is a great thing. It is also the cost of that with the cost of labor and everything else is going up. Um it's solely right now is kind of funded based on purely uh district general fund. Can we find sponsors for that? Can we work to um to use some other venues to work to kind of save these funds are targeted towards graduation in a whole. So what we look at right now, graduation uh with the contract and all of the things that we do for it is about a $40,000 expense to the district. Uh we can definitely justify and summarize some of that as well just through looking at

012sponsorships through um some of our partners, uh our ban program. We have our ban program as well. We can put some advertising up and use some of those. Not that everything not this student's graduation I just saw a commercial this morning. This student sponsored by, you know, you know, you know, K&T Bank. No, it's not going to work like that. But really having some kind of sponsors on some parts where we have on the video board beforehand. So, you know, thank you to our thank you to our business partners so and so on the end of the senior slideshow and some things like that. really kind of help with some of those fees that really target specific graduation to bring those fees down. So, I think it's something we are looking at as well and

013what we have for graduation as well. Do we need both video boards? Can we go to one? So, really having that study along the way too. Those video boards are rather large that are up and will one cover it or is two um necessary. And I think so those are some of the questions that we have to have moving forward to that aspect. Um and then consider a freezer creation of new positions unless required by IAP law change or or OD you unfunded mandate. We really do that now. We don't create necessarily new positions unless it's a one-for-one. We have we haven't come out and created a new position where we haven't seen a savings. So, really looking to, you know, make the savings. I think the only one that I would potentially look at

014is it a need is in terms of custodial for the new buildings and the new additions that we put on in terms of custodial coverage. We've discussed that. But in terms of our teaching positions and those we've we've kind of had administrative we've kept them the number the same if not decreased along the way. And every time we have a retirement or a resignation we do look at, you know, do we need to fill it? Is it appropriate to fill it or you know, can we can we go through attrition for that position and move people around. So, those are all things we are currently doing. Um operational efficiency this is more of Dr. Thompson's baby but looking at what we can do in terms of some of our operational changes. Energy efficiency upgrades we

015do that. We're doing that now. We're doing that internally. Um, so even the greater savings, we're switching out LED bulbs, putting LEDs in with the ballast, and our maintenance staff is doing it. So, we're not bringing a company to do it. We're putting that in to kind of work through. Smart thermostats and controls, our buildings do have external controls. Part of the issues you run into is our buildings the date of our our the age of some of our buildings um make it very difficult to allow that temperature to drop too low cuz we're if the boilers will fire up, we have a real problem. Uh, especially when we expect real cold weather or um in those sorts of things. So, in this winter especially some of those harsh days, we kept our buildings up

016a little bit higher just to make sure that we didn't lose um our system didn't go offline. So, it's some of it's preventative uh as well to make sure cuz that is more important at some point than the few dollars we're going to save. Our utility monitoring programs to detect waste, I think that's there. Uh, bus route optimization software, looking at what that looks like. So, we're looking at our routes and bringing someone to help audit our routes to make sure we're doing it. I would also say shared services um across our schools all the way, really looking to what that looks like. Um, we do have a shared service agreement for special ed students in Payson City. We don't necessarily utilize that as much as we can. So, maybe looking at what that looks

017like as well. Um, I was told to go faster. So, I'm just kind of picking this up. Uh, scheduling efficiency, so looking at our staffing accounts, so making adjustments to that. We do that now. Uh, so we look at how our teachers are used and kind of monitor those student to teacher ratios especially at our secondary We're having those meetings. We're having those meetings on Monday. This should be pink um but it I missed it. Um, so that's something we do. Uh, low enrollment electives or duplicate sections, we run those as well. Uh, reduce those as we can. I think a lot of that too comes out to scheduling. So, sometimes I've classes that have really low enrollment but they need it for graduation. Do we look to offer that every other year and make

018sure that we have a have a fix in the in the way and communicate that out to families that if you need this class, you have to take it this year. Or even potentially online >> online course. >> Absolutely. Um you know, use attrition, which we're doing right now, to reduce um you know, to avoid other cuts. And then looking at supplemental contracts um and do we fill them? Do we not need to fill them based on you know, need, desire, that sort of thing? Making sure that they fit the work that's actually done and and kind of right-sizing some of them along the way, too. So, I think that's the thing. And then uh shared services between schools um as much as we can. We our people are running um and they're their case

019loads are there. We kind of try to be as efficient as we can with all of our personnel uh along the way. So, as we go. Uh we talked about transportation being a large expense. Uh one would be adjust walk zones to where safe. That is that requires a policy adjustment. I'm not saying we go to minimum transportation, but maybe we look at kind of what our transportation guidelines are and where we go from there um and who that would impact. Explore bell schedules to determine if routing can be improved. Um what does that look like along the way? If we can partner with neighboring districts. I mentioned Painesville City. Um we're also, you know, kind of in the middle of exploring some of our other private school routes. Can we partner with some districts

020with them, too, to help? And also other entities to kind of help with some of that what that looks like along the way. And then evaluate bus replacement schedules and maintenance contracts. We have constantly been doing that um and that's been a rather big top topic with PI. But what does that look like kind of moving forward? And where's our fleet now? How long is our fleet lasting and what do we realistically need to keep our fleet um so that our students are safe, but that also that we are being efficient with that. So, we we had a big catch-up period when we cut bussing. Now that we're back, we're kind of up, we can kind of cut back a little bit on it, but really looking at not necessarily making a hey every year

021we're going to buy three buses, but do we need three buses or do our two going to work this year? And then next year we know to kind of schedule some of that. Those are PI dollars, but that still makes a difference. >> And and looking at a contract that we recently passed that undercoats the buses, while I fully support undercoating buses, the current contract language is 50 a year. So, that means we're paying to undercoat buses that are 15 or 20 years old. Uh so, we're going to try with the with our sharp lawyer over there to see um if we can renegotiate that contract and bring that back to you one that makes more sense. >> And then um and this is one that uh we we're already looking at with Mr. It

022significantly reduced our reliance uh on contract van services. Um where are our student places that were can we do it in house? Uh can we make some other things? We're really working hard to do that even with shared services along the way. Um and where students are placed and making some you know decisions that are best best for the child, but then also um efficient as well. So, software audits, I would this would all be pink um cuz we are in the purpose of doing all of this right now. Um audit unused software licenses. Uh really taking making sure that we have that. COVID is one that I would say had a lot to do with this. At COVID, people were giving things away. So, the software company was here, use this and use this

023and use this. Uh just put your credit card, but we won't charge you. So, they put the card in and then eventually they started charging you and it comes up and it's an annual subscription, so you forget about it and that's their business model is forget about it. Um and the next month it comes the next year comes up and oh, here it is again. And we're not necessarily using it. Consolidate multiple platforms into one system. We are really looking at streamlining the purchased softwares we have to make sure that it does consolidate where we can along the way. Again, we do run into some issues with student data privacy with some of these things, um which is why we have to buy some purchased services, but then also does it meet our students' needs?

024I mean, there are some programs that are just powerful more powerful than the free version, and the standards in that classroom may require it. So, those subscriptions. District-wide contracts instead of school purchases, we've done that. We were discussing one today that we shifted to a district-wide instead of the individual schools, and we saved 20% on it. So, that's a big start right there. And that was an elementary software. So, that's a you know, so those little things add up. Um this is a big one, and it's a big one not only for um cost, but also for student data privacy and security. Um starting this this year, so actually next school year, uh our technology director is the gatekeeper for any software that's being purchased for our students. So, anytime we anytime staff wants our

025students to be rostered, which is putting the classes into it, then that software is going to go through our technology um director to make sure it's all gets compliant with all the laws and regulations that are out there, but then also that it really does fit a need of what we have, and it is the best value um that's there so we know about it. And then open source when when possible. Uh we're a Google school. We're a Google school for a reason. Um Google provides probably the best value for for what we need. >> And in terms of the um gatekeeper, how we're assuring he's the gatekeeper is those funds to purchase those software programs are no longer housed in the buildings. It's one account through the tech director. Otherwise, that wouldn't happen. >>

026So, I think this one is is a program and course review. We want to provide as many opportunities for students as we can, but we do want to look at our low participation after we clear this to say, are they really worth it, and are our students getting what they what they want? I'm not saying we want to go through and just cut them all. That's not the option at all. It's really making those informed decisions, and does a new program fit them better um as well? So, looking at that. Uh combine similar programs across the schools if we can to make sure that we that they meet there, especially if we're funding it. Uh at assess cost per student for specialized programs. So, we're really looking at um what we're offering to students. And

027we set our pay-to-participate fees a long time ago, and the cost to run those has gone up significantly. Is it time that we look at that with some um kind of checks and and circuit breakers in place? Like, do we put a put a family cap on pay-to-participate, but look at do we adjust those fees? Do we adjust fees for some of our non uh athletic activities? Sometimes some of our activities we offer students, we let them sign up, we pay a uh an advisor, but we don't charge the There's no activity fee. Is there a flat rate activity fees for students to kind of come into? And And those are Those are tough decisions cuz you want to encourage participation. You want to encourage that well-rounded um decision, but the reality of it is

028some of these are getting to become more and more expensive, and we've kept that fee along the way. Um and we've seen more inflation for for the cost of between transportation, uh the cost of the advisor, the cost of um even the entrance fees, and all that have gone up. So, is it Is it time to really take a look at what we're charging and kind of uh offer some of that? >> What is their pay-to-participate fee right now? >> Sports are $250 a season, and I believe non-athletics are 150. I believe that's I guess I don't have it memorized, but yeah. >> you're right. >> I think >> The sports is correct. I know that. >> And I And marching band's 150, so >> Oh, there you >> Yeah. So, that's >> You're a

029strong horse. >> Yeah. Uh but I don't think I don't know I do not believe there's a family cap. >> I think it's 200 per sport. >> Maybe varsity's 250. >> Mine's 250. >> Yeah. We'll get you the actual numbers. >> Was I overcharged? No. >> No, we'll get the We'll get the actual >> been This has been based on 2024-2025, so >> Okay. >> Maybe it >> I owe right now. >> It's the board member extra fee. And and our theater is like theater and marching band have a fee associated with them as well, but those are the only Those are the two um We don't charge for the athletic academic decathlon we'll talk about later. That's uh there's no fee. It's not that we want to charge a whole lot, but there there

030are costs and associated with that that comes through. Um we drive them places that we pay a advisor. Robotics is not a great program we offer, but we don't necessarily We put money in and it would also notice sometimes they have their own account, so. Two things to that. Again, don't want to make it so that it's not, you know, it's it's cost prohibitive for our family. So, having that circuit breaker I think is key. >> Okay. Just to make sure if anybody watches this, it is 200. I just looked it up. >> Oh, okay. So, it's so 200 I think. I do think that the non-sports are 150 still. >> Okay. >> So, I think there's a difference there. Okay? And then reviewing our grant-funded programs that continue after funding is expired. Sometimes we

031get funds, we get grants to start something up, but then that grant's not necessarily sustainable. So, if we're going to get grant applications or grants that say, "Hey, I want to start this and it's all grant-funded." That's great, but then it This is this is a classic education move. So, that's great we're great to have it, but what's the sustainability like? And what is the part What is the plan for sustainability down the road? And are we are we expected to absorb that cost or where is that cost coming from? >> So, can I ask a question on that also? Is the Board of Education apprised of those kinds of things that happen when we get grant funding for something and it has to be sustained? Does the Board have the opportunity to weigh in

032and say, "Unless you have some funding options after that grant is used, what's the plan?" Because >> I would I would think >> same issue we have in nonprofit. >> I would think that moving forward as part of the acceptance of the grant that we have a plan that this is how we're going to fund it moving forward. Cuz I think that I know the Board doesn't vote on grant acceptance. >> Or is this a test and we're going to find out this is what we want to keep doing, right? Like >> Yeah, pilot versus what's what's in a grant? I think there are some that are um Yeah, it it just depends on what the grants are, but in terms of what we have now, the grants that we have are more for currently

033um are more for geared geared towards like teacher professional development. Um to move some of that forward, but I don't think we have any student grants, do we? Like >> We are not and I have been very thoughtful and at least in my tenure here in not getting a grant or applying for a grant for a program that we did not have a sustainability plan for. That doesn't make any sense to me and it never has, which is why we're in a new building and we don't just have equipment and programs. Do you know what I mean? Because we wouldn't have had anywhere to do that. So >> Yeah, it is I think that's one We talk about the traditional and standard-based, "Hey, how are we going to make some make some you know, trim

034some?" It's we've done that already and part of that is where we came from. So our so our history when we when we made all the our history is really driving where we are now and we are lean. We said that you know, we we said that a lot. We are a lean organization. We continue to because of and I think and I will say it's because of the people who were here when we had nothing. Um and when we were single, you know, $800 a sport to play to play sports, self-funded PTP, um no elementary special like all of those that we had to make to kind of keep the doors open. We've been very cautious as how we add things back to look at true sustainability along the way. Uh facility management is

035another one that's out there. Older buildings are you know, the older the building gets, the more expensive they they come. They can drive up costs. Um consolidate underutilized buildings. We've talked a lot about taking Millridge offline, using it for different purpose um with the Buckeye project as long as that comes in um to where we're at. Lease unused space to community partners. If we have an opportunity to partner with some communities to make sure that that is there um and that opportunity is there along the way um, to to utilize those buildings as potential revenue generators. Um, redraw attendance boundaries to maximize facility usage and improve bus routing. That comes with the Buckeye project and redistricting. We've not been shy about that and been kind of public that when we, um, finish the addition of

036Buckeye that school year we start and open it, we are going to have to redistrict our elementary boundaries and really took take a hard look at where our students are going for the next few years. It doesn't mean that we're going to set those districts boundaries that are there and just say, "These are them for the next 50 years." That's not true at all. Uh, the big kind of uh, variable out there is the Casement development and the 1,300 and so homes that eventually will be there and what that looks like, um, moving forward. So, really taking a look at kind of that, but we need boundaries for now and then we need we will have to look again as we go. I think we're a large district, uh, 66 square miles. So, if we

037can kind of shut some things uh, shift some things around to be more efficient along the way to where our kids are going, uh, for the next, you know, foreseeable future, then we're we're good then we can kind of make adjustments as we need to. Um, if we're we've talked about replacing Riverside and Lamuth and maybe using Lamuth for different thing. Um, what is it what is a new building? Do we get more value for a new building than we do uh, putting money into here if a boiler were to go or something else? We have some significant issues, uh, with this building. There's some some significant costs. So, what does that look like and is there a tenor in the community for that? So, kind of having those real conversations. I I think that

038both Dr. Thompson and I agree, um, building new is more cost affordable than than any type of remodel to look like a new building. Um, and you can build new and still have that same, uh, look as the old building. What is that What can that look like? Because the one thing I know, uh, when you drive along Riverside Drive the building itself, you know, that look is that's that's beloved by our community. Uh, and it's and it is something that we are proud of. And what does that look like moving forward And can we do that and still have those um options that are out there? And I think, you know, that's that's one of the questions. And then also, the last one is non-essential spending. Um Examples of that, travel and conference. I

039mean, it's not out of state travel. I don't know when we go up We don't We limit those as much as possible now. Uh it's something that's there. If you want to go out of state, we really can't take a hard look at what that looks like. Printing reductions and moving to digital. Um That's something we try to continue to do. There are some reasons for it to have paper, but moving to digital as much as we can. I think we've tried to do that district-wide. We did that We even done that with some of the standardized copying and centralized copying. Uh standardized purchasing rules, which we're working to get those in place. Centralized uh supply ordering. We have some of those in place, not necessarily all of them. One example would be paper. Uh

040copy paper is one of our biggest expenses, but we do offer those from the central order. And then, limitations on credit card usage, and we are putting those uh structures in place as well for the next next year. And um The other one as well, it's another thing that we are doing for next year as well. Uh the coverage of open blankets. Not blankets as in blanket purchase orders, um and not the kind to keep you warm. So, the last part is when you look at cost containment making a difference. And and and and we know this. When you add staff, it's approximately $90,000 for a new teacher for 1 year uh with benefits kind of all in. Over time, that compounds if you're if you have a 5 years uh down the road, you're

041looking at a $450,000 savings. So, every reduction we make, whether it's a 1-year temporary reduction that we launch or we know we're going to bring it back, we have an opportunity to save a year, or whether we can kind of go ahead and not eliminate the eliminate the position um altogether, it does make a difference. And it is it is a it is an impact in our um in in our future. And I think we saw that this year um uh with some of the reductions we made. Some we may have to uh base that class sizes and all predict the class sizes and all we can we shift some things around. But it's not it is important to say status quo isn't status quo. So every year we're making a duck. We meet with

042our principals. We have staffing meetings to kind of say what do you need based on the class sizes that are there. We have a we have a couple large class classes coming through. We have a couple really small classes. So things shift along the way and kind of how do we make those adjustments? >> Where do we get the 90,000 number? >> So that's >> is that comprised of cuz it's payroll benefits and insurance and those things? >> Payroll benefits, SCRS contribution from >> And are we using an average salary? >> No, that was just a random number I made up out of the top of my head being quite honest. It was just a number. So I'm just saying you whether if it was a first year teacher it'd be 65,000. If it was

043a veteran teacher uh the average teacher is around $75,000. Throw in their bennies they're somewhere around 90, 95,000. >> Right. I'm just asking like right >> Yeah. So there's really nothing other The only reason to put that on there was so often we look at a cut and we say well that's only 90,000. That's only 60,000. That's only 100,000. We have a 50 million, you know, 75 million dollar budget. But instead of doing that focus on the last number which is minus $4 million that we're trying to dig our way out of. >> So even though the number's random it's still an example of if someone made 90 the total dollar could be close to having a million. >> Yeah. It's just just just to illustrate >> over five years. >> Exactly. Well which is

044where that minus 4.5 million sits. So that's the that's the idea. Just to understand the difference between a compounding expenditure and a one-time expenditure and I know you know. >> only asking that cuz I don't want the public to think that a staff person costs us $90,000, right? Like I they could but on average it might be a little bit less than that if you're reducing and you're bringing in a new person it's probably going to cost less than that, but >> Well, I would say that's where we're in the benefit when we know what openings we need and we know them early, we can go out and recruit early and grab the best the best off out of the college fairs and all that and get them and that's what we were doing to

045kind of get our postings out there to really be what we're looking for to make a concerted effort to make sure that we get, you know, high quality and and that can grow and that can fit fit in and kind of move forward, so >> I think that's the challenge with staffing, right, is that you know, one of our goals is to improve our report card, improve our grades, things like that and that comes along with staffing and making sure we have the staff to support our students, you know, so there's a challenge there, right, that I think we're being very careful with. >> with the system. We don't we don't necessarily, you know, reward experience. >> Right. >> You know, where other businesses and things like that, they they reward experience, but we don't.

046You know, we do in terms of the same, but once you hit a certain spot, there are districts that don't even look at you unless we can't find anybody else. There are some high like open you know, high need, high fill positions that we have to have it for a for some of those where we get a stack of applicants that are this thick and still you know, it's a it it's a lot less in terms of what we're willing to offer to be able to bring that person in. I I think that's a that's a legitimate comment though. It's you know, it's a it's it's a double-edged sword. We we try to look for the best that we can kind of really shape and make sure that they they grow and that they're willing

047to learn. >> So can I ask a lot there, right, and you can't concentrate on everything at one time. I guess I would ask Dr. Thompson and you I can we can see what you're working on already, but what's that priority list? Like what do we go after first? Like what do we really start digging into first? If you guys could put something like that together for us. >> Yeah, I I think I think we have some low-hanging fruit that are there. I don't none of those really close the gap >> Right. a to a huge amount. I think that's the important thing to to get to the point is I mean we could we could come back but I would say you know low hanging fruit easy low hanging fruit obviously we made some

048of the reductions in terms of technology. Um that's going to save us some along along that. I think the other one is really looking at Um and this is you know where where is the board's tenor for for fees? Um and for student fees and kind of where we put some of this. Now that's not going to solve four and a half million dollars. It's I it doesn't. But we offer a lot of these things. Do we adjust some of those those fees that are you know com- commensurate with other local school districts? >> Yeah. >> Um >> Yeah I guess like I know we're going to do a working session, right? So will that like could you guys bring back like here's where we think we go next? Just And again a rough list

049just we understand kind of what we're going to start looking at first. >> I I I will certainly I'll certainly comply. But the focus should be on I mean all of these things are fringe. They don't solve the problem. >> Right. >> I I think our time should be spent right now on solving addressing the problem instead of the symptoms. Um >> Do you have anything you want to add? >> I don't know. >> Okay well I want to mention one thing before we move on. I Um aside from what you just mentioned Dr. Thompson and thank you for the thoroughness of all those slides. What I would love to see deficit spending aside cuz this school district's not entering deficit spending as a result of poor choices here. >> No. >> But slides like

050the the slides that were numbered two, five, seven, and eight for example Um I know I personally would love to just see that be a part of an annual process even if we had a billion dollars in the bank account. Any any business that would be for profit even though we're not would have something in play to look at those efficiencies year in and year out. Some kind of P&L statement of some sort where we would hone in on those four things in particular. I I absolutely think that we could do that. I mean, our you know, we were making our discussions with our principals and recommendations for staffing. And then I know that's that's getting a little bit too much in the weeds, but here's our overall discussion for in terms of what we

051think we can, you know, absorb through attrition um through the next year, what we need to hire back or what we don't. And so I think those are all big um that's where we're going to save the majority of our money and and how long that will last. And we can't necessarily predict our future, but we can look at next year versus the year after and kind of what we think um are the solutions that are there. >> Yeah, yes, and uh coincidentally, the staffing one wasn't one I mentioned. Granted, I just rattled off some numbers. I'm I'm being more specific to the like credit card usage, audits of unused software, things things like that that can just go under the radar pretty easily. >> Okay. Absolutely. All right. So, next steps, uh we do

052need to schedule a work session to kind of get something uh cuz this is a lot deeper uh that's there and it really is. Um yes, we can do a little bit, but that doesn't fix the underlying problem that that we're facing down the road um and looking at what that formal action looks like. Um and then, you know, forming that levy committee and looking at what the kids committee is to look at what what the tenor is in terms of where the board wants to go. So, I think that's where we are we are at with that. Um any part >> the first When is the first action have to be taken? Are there dates specifically? >> It's No, it says June, but there's no date, I think. >> Well, it's a July >>

053Whatever. I like What is the date we're looking at? >> Um >> And are they different from from income tax versus >> 100 days out for income tax millage. >> millage. So, are they different? >> Yes. >> Yeah. >> Millage is 90, income tax is 100, I believe. >> Okay, so millage is 90? >> Those are both set at um for income tax. >> Okay. >> So, 90 days if we're going for property tax, 100 days if we're going for >> Is that >> Incorrect. >> Yeah. >> Um And what is >> So, we're looking at July and August actually have >> But like what dates is I'm >> We're going to be specific. >> Okay, specific dates. >> It's November November 3rd. >> Correct. >> August >> November 3rd is the election day. >>

054Correct. >> Yeah, it's like July. >> So, that March I believe that the one that has a specific date on the 90 days is a specific date. >> Yeah, the 100 days actually I believe falls on a Sunday. I think it'd fall on a Sunday. So, we would have to to be safe report that Friday which would be 2 days sooner. So, it'd actually be 112 days. >> That's the 26th. Is this Sunday? >> Yeah, yeah. So, we'd have to report that Friday. Or be prepared that Friday to submit. >> Okay, so in case the question comes up cuz I know we discussed it, but for the benefit of other people listening, um that we selected November, did we look at other options? I'm just >> Other options uh regarding >> of when to run

055the levy. >> You can delay it. It just know that every time you delay it, it compounds the deficit significantly. >> Right, I just wanted to get that. >> Sure, you could go you could go anytime you want. You could go into state receivership before you seek a levy if you choose. >> I I think the biggest thing in November with whatever we get is we get collections earlier. Um so, we we benefit from collections for a half a year. If it's property tax, it's a half a year. If it's income tax, you're you get another quarter I believe earlier than you do with those. So, >> They stare it in though. They stare it in. >> Yeah. >> It takes a little while to get the month the full It takes almost 2 years

056to get the full income tax benefit. >> Yeah, if if if the tenor is income tax, um we do need to move a lot quicker than a traditional property tax um raise. >> And then as far as the cost of um you know, having it in November as opposed to a special election where it's May or August or something like that. Isn't there a Isn't it more costly? >> It is more costly to have it in in off outside of November, I believe. Um they have in terms of a special election, I think they're very limited what you can do with a special election, so it's November or May. >> Okay. >> Um because they're already running some of those, but I think that you know, the less issues that are on there, the more

057expensive it becomes. >> Right. >> And this being a um midterm kind of across the country, I think that would certainly bode well for us historically, depending on who's in the White House. Depends on the flavor of how the midterms turn out, so just something to consider. >> And then statewide, you know, you keep hearing I don't know if there's enough signatures, but um there's a lot of discussion uh about the property tax elimination. >> I yeah, I would agree. I think that um we don't know how many signatures they have and if they'll get their 400,000 by July. That's a big ask to get. Uh we've heard um some of our some of our advocates as well as some of the other uh groups not think they're going to get it on um for

058this year um cuz they don't think they'll have their signatures by July. That doesn't mean that they won't. Um it doesn't mean that they can't. So, it's something that we have to you know, obviously prepare for and look at what that is. I don't know uh where the state is with that, nor do I know kind of what the you know, what the We keep asking, what's the answer um to that group and that group as well the state will figure it out. That scares me. Uh that that that that scares me a lot. So, I think that's uh you know, and and that's something that we've kind of continuously said is you having a plan we were impacted by a by a vote of three um you know, cuz we we planned out. I

059mean, if they if property taxes get eliminated, where does that go not only with um you know, general operating funds, but then all of them money that's indebted to property taxes. Um and so, you know, Parkside and Riverview the the original buildings we're still paying on them. There's still money issue that's out there that's funded by property tax. So, what does that look like? >> Who's on the ballot in May? Do you know? >> Mentor is No, Mentor is on the ballot uh >> Mentor is on for property tax. >> Painesville City is a property tax, I believe. >> it was earned income tax. >> No, cuz Painesville's earned, Mentor's a traditional property. Uh the difference between Well, no, actually >> And then you then you have Wickliffe and Willoughby Eastlake. >> Wickliffe Wickliffe is

060a Willoughby Eastlake pulled there. So, Willoughby Eastlake >> not at all. >> I believe Madison Madison has to be, I believe. Um I I think they are. I don't know what their what their issue is. >> That's May. And they have it So, so we've got four four different districts going in May. >> If if you look statewide, there are a lot of districts that are going in May and they are going income tax. Twinsburg is a percent and a half. It's it's over a percent. Percent and a quarter. Percent and a quarter. >> do? If this both in our favor, we don't have to vote on anything till June. It would be interesting and it will be interesting to see what happens in these districts. I have my own thoughts on what's going to

061happen. >> Mhm. >> Um before we make a decision on what it is and how we want to do it, I will be very interested to see what May's results are even across the state what they look like. Not that it means that we don't need it. I just I have some hesitation. Waiting until June. You then you don't even gear up your levy committee till the end of June. And there's early voting. You you would have no depending on what we do especially it's going to take a lot of communication and education in the community. It's going to take a thoughtful and hard campaign. And if you don't even decide to go to the go to the approve it until June. My recommendation would be skip November and wait till May. If if you're

062going to wait that long. >> I I don't I personally I don't If we're going to have a discussion, I don't know that I'm absolutely ready to make a decision here in March. I haven't heard enough about what we're actually doing. I don't have the details on you know these many people are retiring and this is what our five-year forecast is going to look like when we rehire these people and maybe we're going to cut this. I don't know what that is and until I start to hear what that means I I'm not fully committed yet. I'm not saying I don't need I know we don't need it but I'm saying I think the community needs to hear specifically what we are doing so that they know what it is that they're either gaining, losing,

063keeping with with the ask that we're going I think they deserve that. So, that's just >> Yeah. >> I guess where I am we we know we're going to need it. Like there's no we we can't get around not going to the ballot. Like we have to. Like I don't haven't seen the magic solution not to, right? Like >> Right. >> Yeah. So, and I understand the whole idea of making sure the campaign committee has time, you know, all that. But um Well, I guess also I think let's go through the rest of this slide, right? Like there's things there's information >> to make it through all of them. We're going to come close. Yeah, so we're going to I think the next thing that you know, Dr. I'll turn over to Dr. Thompson bit

064with the updated facility cost between the the ballot that was on and if we were to put a new facility cuz we talked about what it costs and what it could potentially cost to replace the building here. So, I will turn over He did all the work on this and they're really kind of I don't like putting him on the spot with that, but >> I didn't do anything. I just looked at it and said, "Yeah, that looks good." To throw What does it look like projection-wise in 2022 versus 2026 and what the difference is >> in that. So, those slides are very small. We can send the actual spreadsheet out to you a little bit >> so you can see them. I didn't realize that when I put it up there. Um but with

065that, I'll turn it over to you. >> What What you're looking at is what was put together in 2022. Um the total build is 160 100 162 million dollars. Uh the actual building itself is 147 million dollars. Um and it's uh it's In my view, according to our research on student enrollment, uh there are some There are some challenges. It's It's It's way oversized. Um and then of course it has some great amenities if you could pass it. But it's a But that's 162 million. Next slide, please. Uh this is what we modeled uh worked up with TDA. Um this includes and it's hard for me to Well, actually, I can turn here. What an idiot. Um This So, what we're what we're looking at right now is and I'm going to show you student

066enrollment numbers and show you how student enrollment numbers are declining and they continue to decline. Also show show what they are projected with Casement if Casement were to go full size. Meaning 1,357 homes if those were to be built based on demographic information that we do have. But anyway, the building itself, this is a 7-12 building. It is at right now our students would fit in this building now as it stands. And then I'll show you the projections of declining enrollment. That's 107 million for the base building. Then if you add weight room, which is necessary, a Board of Education office, which is um and instead of building the previous plan was a 6,000 square foot central office. If we put 2,000 on the home that's next to us, I don't know what you call

067that home. I don't know what it's called, but if we if we put a 2,000 square foot addition across the front, um that's a significant savings. The Performing Arts Center, and you can theater, you could certainly make an argument for either one. In the previous um mock-up, it was 1,200 seats. This mock-up is 600 seats, so it's a significant reduction in cost of of constructing that space. And we would need to relocate the softball diamond, and so there's a cost of $500,000 for that. Um and that comes out to 100 and total all in's 119 million. So, um you can see where where those costs are and all associated costs are. Uh so, how does how can you fund this? Um so, there's been a lot of discussion about can you use income tax, can't

068you use income tax? The answer is uh yes, you can use income tax. So, what you've got here is the higher revised code. The interesting part is there was a you know, a statement made well, you can't use income tax for debt. Well, that is true. That's a true statement. But and I can't say I understand or agree with this, but the state of Ohio does not consider a cops as debt. It is a lease. So, it is not considered debt. Not only does it that allows you to use income tax to pay for it and it also does not count against you can only in debt a school district up to 9% of its total property valuation. You don't that doesn't count against your indebtedness level. So, neither does the $15 million cops for

069Buckeye for that matter either. So, it is called a lease purchase obligation. There's the statutory requirements for it. Next slide. I'll let you read that on your own for the sake of time. And then so, when you put the statutes together this is what it says and basically the final line the bottom half of that I think you got one more bullet I think. No. Okay. This is a legal use of that. Of income tax. It doesn't mean that that's the best answer. It's just an answer it's just an option for consideration. Um So, again it's under the funding authority and so, the question really is if you were to build a 7-12 facility with a passage of a 1% earned income tax, can you do that and meet your operational needs? Next slide. So,

070this this slide comes to us from Priscilla and his folks. This tells us how um excuse me, how much the income tax brings in. So, and what you can borrow against it. So, a one if we do earned income, which is the top box, at 1% that's pulling in about 13.3 million. That's very close to what we projected as well. And you can borrow up to 197 million dollars against that income tax. So, um a 1% earned earned income tax. Now, you'll notice it says 2029. Um I've been advised that a 2% is a conservative but fair expectation on growth. Bond issue or excuse me, uh property tax does not grow, we know, because of House Bill 920. House Bill 920 does not impact income tax. So, that number will grow by about 2% every

071year. That still does not keep up with inflation. Um and we go well above inflation because of 10% for health care every year. Pay raises are significantly higher than that when you add steps, etc., etc. So, but an earned income tax generates 14.3 million. The general fund needs 7.5 million dollars to keep us off in our projections for at least 7 years off the ballot. Now, that could come in the form of property tax uh or it could come in the form of an income tax. The our debt obligation for that building would be 6.9 million dollars for 30 years. So, if you look at 2029 when our first payments would start coming due, we would have revenue at 14.3 million, expenses at 14.4 million. That's not the overall budget. I'm just talking about the

072income tax meeting our needs to balance our budget and uh paying that debt obligation. Then by 2030, we're not we're upside down by 100,000 here. By 2030, we would not be upside down. Next slide. Enrollment data. So, what we presented does it drive with what the experts are saying about our student enrollment? We're out about 280 kids at class right now. So, enrollment's declining. Will that continue? Well, Casement. Let's So, let's keep going so we can get to Casement. Um Casement right now has 1,358 homes. We average apparently we have half-bodied kids because um we have 0.57 kids per home in our school district. >> That's that's for the developments only. >> Yes. >> So, our newer developments and our concentrated housing developments like a Casement is a averages out to be 0.57. >> Yeah.

073>> So, you're looking at like Summerwood >> Summerwood. Um Yeah, all >> Casement, Sky Park >> Yeah. >> Um >> Okay. So, >> River Shores, Fairway Pines >> I did it a totally different way. Um and we came up with almost the same numbers. But anyway, uh that's 59.5 new students per grade or 119 additional middle school students and 238 addition or 119 middle school, sorry, and 238 high school. If Casement comes to fruition and develops at 1,358 kids, if it stays consistent with demographic data in the community, um we would we would be able to offset uh that enrollment. Basically, the combination of our declining student enrollment and Casement makes us stay pretty stable. >> So, can you add to your chart like from 2021 on, like what they estimated our enrollment and what

074it actually was? Because I think we've had some problems with that in the past. I just want >> Certainly, I No, that's a great piece of data. Yeah, we can pull that. It's a great idea. So, enrollment impact. So, trying to plan for it stop there. Trying to plan for uh what we would do. So, if this is this is assuming that um Casement would come. So, what we would have a we would have with our declining enrollment of we know just over 50, I think it's 52.6 kids per year. If that stays consistent, um Or excuse me, the or yes, that are we receive these Casement kids, the 1% income tax. We're assuming 1,500 of those homes would be non-income earners. In other words, retired people, people that cuz some of them are townhouses,

075some of those things that might um be attractive to retired people. If that's true, household income average in our district is $107,000. So, we would estimate this is on the low end, just a little over a million dollars a year we would generate of income tax from the people that live in Casement if 1,358 homes are built. >> Uh this is a good point to add this. That 107,000 per household, we did the math equates to for earned income, $44 a paycheck per house, not for person per house, but per house. 44 bucks. >> I would I would also say with that with earned income in this case we are already scheduled to gain gain revenue from Casement as a new bill comes out through the TIF agreement which is for 30 years plus. This

076is on top of that. So this this is the way that we would gain income from earners who moved into that house. >> Have they even started anything? >> Uh my I just talked with Painesville Township. They're they're about a year behind. >> Okay. >> Um it's my understanding. >> But there is some activity over there. >> There's some but they don't they do not they were supposed to have the first home up by the end of the year this year and they're um one of the trustees said there's no way. >> Yeah, and I don't know if you could publish a copy of that TIF thing because I know we have some new board members and it shows you know when the years and what we're getting. >> We We certainly can dig that

077up and get that to them if you like. >> Yeah. >> I don't know who can explain it to them. >> Well, so it was a decent charge. >> So if there is so what we would do if this happens and we start to see more students than we anticipated and our enrollment grows and as Mrs. Krenitsky said maybe those numbers that we're seeing don't actually end up being that the projections. So in other words the projections are wrong. Um this is the this is the plan. Those dollars we would set those dollars into the PI account, transfer those over. That million dollars. So that and design the building in such a way that you we would know where additional classroom space would be built on. >> So one of the reasons why I'm a

078fan of property tax for bond levies for purposes of construction is because you're mortgaging something for a period of time and you're guaranteed whatever it is you need to collect for those bond payments. If you don't collect your income taxes, you're now taking a hit to your general fund if we do this this way. I don't know that I'm sold on it yet. >> I'm saying do you I mean this is definitely something new to me and to Chris and to every pretty much everyone. >> deny that income tax is is a great way of thinking for general fund and operational, but I'm not sure I'm a fan of it for construction at all. >> and mortar, >> for brick and mortar because again, that's it's mortgaged property and in any event, I know that

079a bond levy doesn't matter what your property taxes like what your property values are. That bond levy is going to collect higher or lower whatever it needs cuz you're giving the auditor a debt schedule. >> That's correct. >> And so that there's a level of comfort there. >> House Bill 920 and what has one positive impact on school funding. While it won't go up uh because of House Bill 920, House Bill 920 also doesn't allow it to go down to your point. >> But debt service, it doesn't House Bill 920 does not apply. So it doesn't make any difference whatever your house values are, you're going to see a bump in in your property taxes. If you've got to pay $2 million in debt service, you are going to collect $2 million to pay the

080debt cuz it's it's a debt schedule and >> There's no doubt about it. The challenge is um I mean probably at the end of the day is it easier to market and pass a 1% income tax in an atmosphere where there's a lot of pressure as um uh was just previously stated uh by Ms. Brewster, there's a possible amendment to abolish property tax whether it makes it on the ballot this November or it doesn't. There's a lot of pressure on property tax right now. And to to meet our economic needs as already showed you at our retreat and to meet and to do a bond issue would be pushing eight or nine, probably close to nine mills bond for a bond issue and a and a and an operating levy. >> But so again, I'll

081just I'll go back and I'll say this the state of Ohio every entity that has bonds will default if they don't exclude bonds from property tax relief. So they're going to have to do that. I mean >> Yeah, that >> And even if they tried to, that's that would go to the Supreme Court at the end of the day. Like you have too many things >> Yeah. >> too many financial institutions and markets would collapse around the state. >> Yeah, I'm not even I'm not even going there in my mind. I'm just simply saying can you can you can you pass nine mills or can you pass 1% income tax? >> But I'm not I'm I'm proposing that we don't have to do one or the other. We could do both. >> And >> That's

082a possibility. >> you could you could consider property tax for your construction purposes and we haven't even talked about that in the strategic plan yet and what the community wants. And so to be putting that now here while we're having this discussion, at least for me doesn't seem to be the appropriate place to be putting it. And again, we're going back to are we doing the cart before the horse thing? I don't want to go there again. Yeah, I I get challenged whether we we have a facilities plan that doesn't outline brand new schools. Not that I don't agree with putting a brand new schools, believe me, I would love them for our district, but I think that's what's been approved. So I have a challenge with myself just saying hey, we can skip over

083what's in our plan until we again go through the process of making sure where the community's at at this time. So that's one of my concerns. But we definitely need operating money. Um Can I ask what happens to the the agreement we made with Painesville Township and the TIF if for instance, that whole property tax thing goes away cuz that's built property tax, right? >> Right, they're still working that issue. >> They they they don't know. And so that So all that property tax is being used to fund all the development. So if property tax goes away, that development ceases until they work all that out. >> But are they not issuing bonds on the face of that right? Like >> they are I believe they are. But I don't know but it's five phases.

084So at what point do the bonds start and stop? And I I don't know what the I'm I'm not 100% sure as to what They don't And again, they don't have those answers. Because there's >> initial infrastructure dollars is through the sale of bonds. So they're going to the market as well. >> are and and I think they did that for the first one, I believe. Um but they don't know I mean it's There's there's a whole lot as to what if it passes um where do we go? So I I think that we do need another work session to to discuss a lot of this and where we go um and and what we look at kind of moving forward. Um and I think that's that's something we need to talk about potentially even

085in in new business. I know I sent a Doodle poll out and um didn't necessarily come up with some good luck, so we can talk about you know some common dates and maybe maybe get in a tighter window for that as well. Um but I think that um you know kind of in the interest of of timing and to keep things moving um I think we kind of put a pause on this till we get to the next to the next step and move forward. >> Okay, Jimmy Lee and and and Mr. Dino and Mr. Byers You guys have the current facilities plan and I don't know where to find it just so you have it. Okay, I just wanted to make sure. So it's right on >> There was some kind of survey that

086went out and I penciled in 8 to 11 on the 26th finance meeting, but is was that just a poll you were taking? >> Uh I'm sorry, I'm trying to get out >> There was some kind of poll that you were taking among the board members at >> for the working session. >> for the work session. >> That was the work session. >> Yes, and we did not um we We not come up with something that was common. Okay, so that's a question. >> That's that is a question that we are going to try to iron out today. >> Yeah, there's a couple dates that four people can attend so we'll have to talk about the dates and make sure that we can see if there's any adjustments that can be made. >> Okay, and

087the only other thing I want to say is and it hasn't been mentioned a lot but the state and what's happening and even our local government with our funding and then the fact that we have a lot of continuous levies and where is that going to put us going forward? >> So I asked about that too today. I think that I think that bill is only dead. >> Okay. >> That's what one of the some of the Pine Richland Alliance who does a lot of work down in the state. He doesn't know but he says it's not getting a lot of legs. >> Yeah, okay. >> So I don't know. Yes, so I I think that is it's one to definitely watch but he said it's not it's not getting the traction that some of

088the others. >> Okay. >> So. >> Okay. So before we move on can we get a date? >> Do you want to do that now? >> That's fine. I >> Would love to. >> So what were the two dates that you had with four people? Let's start with that one. I I can look at my email also. >> I am looking it up right now. So the one that I had that um And and I think part of the issue was the was the three hours was Thursday March 26th from 4:00 to 7:00. >> Book it DNL. >> So can we work within that date? >> Sorry, can you say that one more time? >> Thursday March 26th and I proposed 4:00 to 7:00. Um our students are still on spring break but we can

089is it is it a timing cuz of the four? Do we push it back to five? I don't know if we're going to need three hours. Um Mr. Dino said three hours and sometimes >> You only three hours. >> Um have the questions that go there but is that let's start with that one. >> 4:30 works a little better for me. >> Okay. >> I can still make 4:30. >> So the 8:00 to 11:00 we're scratching. >> The 8:00 to 11:00 did not I'm going with the highest. We're going to go from the highest and work our way down. So, do I hear 4:30? 4:30 going once. Is 4:30 good with everybody if we do the 26th? >> It is 4:30. >> Or would 5:00 be We could do 5:00. >> The 26th doesn't matter

090after 4:30. It's fine either way. >> 4:30 on the 26th? >> 4:30 it is. There it is. >> 2:00 to 1:00. >> So, we're done. We scheduled 7:30, but hopefully we can >> Get it the next day. >> 4:30 on the 26th. >> So, yeah, till Friday morning. So, all right. So, 3:26 from 4:30 to 7:30 work session. >> And would that be in the install room? >> That would be in the board conference room. >> Okay. >> Um >> Send that meeting notice out right now, Mike. >> Assuming Assuming I don't get stuck in Orlando cuz I'll be down for the band, we'll be good to go. >> Oh, they've been having some storms run through. Right. >> And since we're going to be having that meeting, I know it wasn't mentioned. We talked

091a lot a lot about things, but nothing was mentioned about transportation. You know, we know what our current bus, you know, maintenance is looking like. And also, there were some concerns about the field house. So, I don't know when you talk about something for everyone, I don't know especially the field house. >> What concerns >> have air conditioning. It doesn't I mean, there were other concerns. >> So, that was part of So, I mean, I think we go into more of That's part of the new um you know, the facilities plan upgrades. Um definitely taking a look at that, too. We can I'll bring the old facilities plan back. We can talk about that. Um what that looks like, too. But, I think that's something that after absolutely as we bring it through buildings and

092grounds, there are some things we'd like to do now. Um but then and we have some cost estimates for that and then some things that, you know, we can afford. There are some things that are long like air conditioning is not something we can do now. Um I would love to put just a couple of mini splits in there and call it a day. Our which isn't here missed it, but uh but that's it's just not going to be that that's an expensive add to that one. So, I think we look at Yep. Oh, no, we're not. That's that's something that's out there. So. >> So, will we have any strategic plan updates from the meetings that they're doing by the 26th or anything? >> No, our our Are we not even starting those yet?

093>> Well, we're So, we're starting one before spring break and the one is after. So, that's in the middle of spring break. So, we don't have the focus groups. >> What was the date we thought the strategic plan would be done? April? >> August. Was I Was I dreaming? >> How convenient. >> I knew it was May, but I got asked when it could be done. >> Before she turns the lights off and closes the door, she's going to hand over the plan. >> All right. Yeah. All right. Sorry. That was really funny. Fun days. All right. Um that brings us to approval of minutes. So, um motion to approve minutes for February 26th, 2026 and March 6th, 2026. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Uh Mr. Byers? >> Sure. >> And any

094discussion? All right. Can you call roll, please? >> Mr. Ardinno? >> Aye. >> Mrs. Grassy? >> Aye. >> Mr. Byers? >> Aye. >> Ms. Brewster? >> Aye. >> Ms. Skrenesky? >> Aye. >> Motion carries. Five votes. >> And that brings us to special reports. >> Okay. We have a number tonight. The first one is um I put TDA, but we actually have TDA and RFC construction here to give an update on where we are um with both Buckeye and kind of some updates with the other construction projects. So there's turn over to Ryan Schmidt first for his side. So Ryan is going to speak regarding the Buckeye project as a whole. So >> Evening everybody. Thanks for having me. I just wanted to give you a brief update on where we are with the plans.

095We've gone through a bunch of exercises to make sure that we streamline the plans that you've seen previously. There were a couple concepts that we had presented back in January now I think it was and we went through we met with administration and some staff talked through the merits of both of those and arrived at what you'll be seeing as a two-story plan that I'll be presenting tonight. One of the big challenges was making sure that we get efficient use of space cuz you were trying to make sure that we're using as little of that site as possible and we're making efficient use of dollars and cents as we're putting this this addition together. So this is the existing site and the addition goes out here where we're going to the addition goes out in

096this location. So we're trying to maintain as much of this green area as possible so that way when we extend the drive-thru here and we put the addition in we maximize use of the site. So this is our current floor plan. What you see here this section all in through here is the existing building. This is all single story. This plan looks at how the addition would connect to that. This is the second floor over here that sits essentially over the top of this and it starts to map out where some of the classrooms would be. Now this these aren't 100% set in stone yet but this is a really good indication of how we visualize the space being utilized. So I'll start with the the main portion of the building. This as part of

097the overall plan is to receive a renovation. That's you know looking at mechanicals, lighting, getting ceilings and finishes and roofing and that sort of thing in this section of the building and And to bring it up to a level of quality that will sustain you for for years to come. Uh in doing that, we're looking at some of these spaces and how we group classrooms, how we utilize the new classrooms, and how all of this lays out. So, one of the things we talked about was kindergartens and where they'd be most effective. Uh one of the things you have with all of the building is that the classrooms are all essentially the same size. Kindergarten, you traditionally would like a slightly larger class classroom with restrooms. So, what we looked at and working with staff

098came to realize is that if we take and put uh kindergarten classrooms at these two locations, there is an existing space here that we could uh push our restrooms into and maximize that space again. So, the classroom stays large as we can keep them, not having to do anything structural to the walls, uh but we get restrooms into those classrooms. Having kindergarten uh towards the core, towards the administration is nice cuz you're close to administration, you're close to uh dining, you're close to the clinic, which is always important with little kids. So, this really centralizes that. And then working off of that, we look at some of the younger grades. So, you get first grade kind of in this wing, uh and then you move into second, third, and fourth uh in the new addition.

099Um this wing would still be your technology, music, and library media arts. So, that stays over in this area. And then gymnasium uh and those features would end up over there. So, the addition is you move into it, we're able to push the building up against the existing, uh maintain a path of fire egress there, have stairs at two locations, uh central area of classrooms on both floors. One of the really nice features as in this plan, we were able to locate a set of doors just just off the elevator, and that creates a lobby space here. The labora- lobby would have access to restrooms, gymnasium, and a and a meeting room space. So, what this does is it allows you to section off this entire portion of the building and just maintain this portion

100for after hours and weekend activities, which is is a really nice feature. Um this also does provide uh access into the space so you can see the stage and things of that nature. Uh moving back into this portion of the building, behind that are our two stairways that go up to the second floor up over here. So that's behind secure doors. So as you secure this, if there's a lockdown or anything of that nature, you're able to maintain this as a secured space uh back behind those doors. And then second floor is very similar to the first floor, you end up with classrooms up there, uh group restrooms up there, access to the elevator, and another small meeting room. So one of the really nice features I think that we were able to capture with

101these new plans uh is something that you don't see in some of the older schools, and that's the placement of these green rooms. Uh green rooms on this plan are uh specialist spaces that's uh spaces you could go for intervention, they're small office spaces, uh small group rooms throughout the building, but this distributes those uh throughout the building to get spaces where students could interact with specialists and have um small group uh throughout the building. And then if we could go to the next slide? This one shows a rendering of kind of what we're talking about on the outside. So really what we're trying to do is maintain uh a lot of the character of the existing building, the brick, uh some of the banding, the window heights, you know, do those sorts of things,

102but then also look at this part and start to pull in some of the character that's been developed at uh Riverview and some of your other schools where you have some of that materiality and kind of pull the whole thing together. So at the end of the day, really the vision is to create a campus that matches kind of the aesthetic that's starting to develop throughout the district. Um this isn't set in stone, this particular vision, uh but this is a a concept that we're working on as we further develop the plans as we go. So. >> Okay, going back to the gym, can we go back a slide? >> Uh yeah. >> Okay. Yeah, um what kind of too far away to see it. Um what is that in the going into the playground

103area? >> This No. This is the stage. This is the stage. >> That is the stage. Okay. >> And and there's ramping for that and everything. >> Yep. >> All right. And then on the right side outside of the what is that? >> This is a This is a chiller yard for the mechanical system. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. >> So that's outdoor space. That's not part of the building zone. >> And and there's like I see the green spaces and that's very important cuz they've been on top of each other over there, but based on what both schools need, that would be sufficient space for everybody. And then what did you decide about the stage and in the existing lunchroom? >> So that Yeah, that that is something we're still exploring kind of

104the options for >> I didn't think the one thing we had talked about even just putting windows to get some natural >> lighting in that cafeteria would be a big >> Yeah. Yeah. There's The good thing is is that space, so you have some luxury to kind of explore as the rest of this gets put together as we really start finalizing exactly where people are going in this building, then you can look at that that real estate and determine the best use of it. But there's a lot of potential for that particular >> But the step up would have to remain? >> Not necessarily. There's a cost associated with it, but you should be able to remove that floor. >> concrete all the way through? >> There's concrete on top of From what we can

105tell in drawings and such, there should be aggregate, dirt, gravel below it. So effectively, when they built these most of the time back in the day, they would essentially build the perimeter walls, they build the front wall. We can't remove that. That is a load-bearing front wall. Uh but then they would just backfill this with aggregate, they pour a slab over the top of it. And we We actually removed one of these over in Mayfield a couple years ago uh over at uh Center. So it's >> the front wall, you mean the opening to the stage? >> Yeah, the the proscenium uh at the front area of the stage this all of this has roof structure roof steel that's coming across here. When it gets to here this wall becomes a bearing wall as part

106of the roof structure. Not sure why they did it that way but that's how they handled it. >> So generally with a new school you would have a gymnasium near the cafeteria and obviously we can't do that here. >> Mhm. >> How how would you hope like host concessions for an event that happens in the gym? Is there room in that lobby or something like that? >> Um we could we could yeah I mean this is a fairly large space right here so if you put a table and you had a backdrop there you would have space that you could do something. >> Do our review of our site have built in concessions that they use often? >> I don't think so. I think they're used for storage. >> Storage. >> I I would say

107that I think that's one of the things we built in and don't utilize at all. >> I more and more that was kind of a wish list for everybody 10-15 years ago everybody viewed it as something the boosters but it's set up it's separating materials becomes difficult people need to keep for each of the booster groups it tends to be a little more difficult to kind of separate all those materials so everybody likes to hold on to their own stuff and so those rooms don't get utilized in quite the way people vision envision it. >> Is this green I'm kind of blind this is a green box. >> That's a green space yes. >> Uh this green space and the one on the other corner of the north the southwest is can you walk us

108through what those are going to >> Yeah so this presently is staff space so we were removing some staff spaces as these were staff spaces previously these become small group rooms this becomes a staff space so that's for copiers and those sorts of things lounge space but it's right next to administration so they could have meetings and stuff like that. This one was small groups so we're breaking that up into small group rooms. We're still talking through kind of the nitty-gritty of those. >> But you can just repurpose classrooms. >> Yes they are yep yep. >> So classes in that new addition would be able to go to the playground with that one green box right there, right there. >> Right there, yep. And we would have doors off the gym. I'm not showing one

109over here yet, but there would be doors over on this side that would get you out to the north field space as well. So, yep. >> And as far as the interior space, which is the existing playground, and I know depending on where that goes, but the fencing of the construction area we're going to lose some of that space. So, is there a plan to move some things? >> The The goal would be to do be very similar to what we talked about in previous iterations. So, we would we would maintain as much of that existing space. It It actually did compress, yeah. >> Right. >> Yeah. That second floor helped that quite a bit. >> Yeah, because with that stage being at where this is now, I think that will totally I think it

110might take away the entire basketball court, but that wasn't in good shape anyway. So. >> Yeah, but this whole thing uh this whole thing was this way about another 30-40 ft, and we were able to condense everything quite a bit. Yep, yep. >> All right. Roger. Before we go on a tour, uh any updates on I know we were talking about >> Yeah, we >> Yep. So, based on the the the drawings that Brian just shared with you, we went back and we updated, you know, going to a two-story, there was some added cost, obviously. We updated our And this is just a schematic uh estimate, and we're at 14.6. With the with the addition and the renovation, um Brian and I have been talking. We'd like to talk to his mechanical engineers. There is

111some room for us to create some value engineering, some savings. We'd like to entertain that. Uh to tighten that budget a little bit. We don't want it to be too close to the 15 million. That's something we would be working with them throughout from the schematic design up to the design development phase. Um and then we would have another estimate at the design development phase that we would share back, you know, with you. The goal still for the project would be to break ground this summer, uh work through throughout, you know, the the rest of the year and into next year on the addition, and then work in the existing this summer and next summer throughout some of the holidays to have it all completed in August of 2027. The addition itself will probably be

112completed a little bit sooner than that. We probably will have some work to do on the addition still next spring and summer on the outside, obviously. Uh but the goal would be to have the entire project, addition, and existing renovation completed by August of 2027. >> And and having that addition done early during the school year allows them to get to the building cuz we can section the building off even and move classrooms into the addition uh to kind of continue with the class and then they can move back to other other sections. So, we can kind of shift some things and pivot. One thing we're really good at in this district is pivoting. Um so, we can we can shift around and make that happen. So, we can make sure we get that 2027

113date and and hit it. >> And one of the earlier renderings and I didn't catch it on the previous slide, is the mechanical room on the second floor still on this? >> We are showing that as part of the building. >> And I know that's the case at Riverview and Parkside, correct? >> Mhm. >> Is there a benefit to having it on the second floor? >> Um the benefit in this case is that we're using the first floor for storage for the gymnasium and we're using it for outdoor uh storage and workroom space. So, >> Oh, yeah. >> Is there no disadvantage to that kind of weight gain on the second floor? >> No, no, the don't weigh that much. They're rooftop units essentially that we're bringing inside. So, there's not a big problem with

114that. So. >> So, where's the storage for the gym? >> It's all right here. So, it'd be right off that main gym space on the first floor. This footprint just gets absorbed into a mechanical room. >> So, we didn't end up having it in the gym. It's outside of the >> It's It's the gym space. It's doors from the gym directly into it. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You don't have to go anywhere to get to it. >> And the front elevation, the entrance as you walk in, um are there changes to that? >> Um it's that That last view was a generic view of it. Yeah. I mean, the windows and everything were So far, we're keeping very similar to what we had previously. We're just looking It's a two-story space now. So, we're essentially lifting

115the roof. >> You're asking about the existing entrance though, right? >> The existing, yeah. >> We don't have anything on the existing entrance set up. >> Originally, there there was going to be some change, but I I don't know because you talked about, you know, the wall that is the back of the stage, adding some lights that would >> So, we talked Yeah, so I I mentioned that just earlier, putting windows into the cafeteria to have some natural light in there. Those are Those are as they get to the redesign, those are some of the asks we have that, you know, almost a storefront a little bit. So, that will make the front of the building look different because they'll they'll have windows that are kind of face out. But, I think getting natural light

116into that space is is a good thing. >> Okay. And the existing clinic, it's okay? Like, I know I've heard different things about it being small, but then they were using another space, too, and I don't know if that's right or not. >> Um >> That comes up. I think as these plans develop, that comes up. >> Okay. I just wanted to mention >> So, those are all considerations. >> As you're adding student population, they're going to need room. >> Those Those will all come out of it. So, some of these items though, you know, cuz to be clear, you know, like the the windows in the front and adding lights and all that, these are all going to be alternates. >> Jeff, yeah, absolutely. >> to the design. And then, depending where the numbers

117end up, then you can make the decision if that's something that you do or there is a few items that we've discussed with Rich as well that are going to be alternates in the plans and then we'll we'll bid them as such. And then when the number when the final GMP comes in then you can make some decisions on these alternates. >> Yeah. >> It's always good to have wants in the project and then when you see the value of it, you decide if the want is worth the weight. So. >> Where are we with the front the south end of the building where the buses >> just coming through the curve? Any any >> We we are working on design for that. We don't have an update on that presently. But uh the goal

118will be that that bus loop drop off uh that's just still in progress. So. >> Any other questions? All right, well with that um we're going to take the show on the road a little bit cuz uh we are in CTE or CTX, I'm sorry. >> CTX. >> I actually So, uh we we initially called it CTE but that's too um that's often confused with programming that's done in like um vocational centers so we call it CTX, the X standing for experience. Um so we are definitely providing experiences as This is the common space classroom so when we designed this, the vision is um this is a classroom that is connected purposely through double doors um to both the larger lab area and also the maker space which we'll go see in a second. As

119you can see, both view boards are connected um wirelessly to each other. They also work independently so we can kind of shift up things like that. The furniture as you see uh mostly these tall tables that do roll and shift around. Um we do have other options but really kind of having that you can write on the tall tables too. Um they are dry erase markers so when you're really ideating, um you can kind of do that on these tables working to kind of start a project out from that. In our current schedule, it does provide opportunities for that with the black and the longer periods of time and extensions of time that gets there. It's um you know, in terms of you know, standard classroom um, storage cabinets for each of the areas that

120we plan to have here. Um, the tall cabinets are for uh, Mr. Byers and other really tall people to reach up there. Um, you know, they're not Dr. Thompson cabinets for sure. >> Yeah. >> But uh, long long-term storage is the plan for up there. Um, and then obviously supplies are in there as this will be rotated through uh, different classes and different different um, we will not have one single teacher housed here. We'll have a rotating teachers um, down here throughout. So, this is kind of the start to this space. Uh, we will go into the construction lab or the lab space um, next. So, if you want to kind of follow me out here. So, our and our this is a current in progress classroom. We provided to they're already doing it. So,

121quite possibly the greatest part about this space is the windows and view. Um, it really kind of opens it up and shows off the space a long way. Um, also love love the striping here. Very very dramatic. That room recycling really turned out well. All of the furniture that you see came in pieces and was actually installed and put together uh, by our construction class. So, we got it in and we said, "Hey guys, go to work." and they've done that um, throughout. They picked out a lot of these tools uh, to do as well and now they are already constructing. So, they are teaching them how to of and tape. They built the wall from the platform. They actually built the platform, then they built the wall. Now they put the drywall up, now

122they're mudding and taping, and they do a better job than I do. So, that's really impressive along the way, but this is These are some of the skills they have as they continue to get this space and some of the other supplies that come in, they're going to learn some basic plumbing, some basic electricity work, all kind of really essential life skills, whether you're going into construction or not. It's really important to know how to change a circuit breaker and not electrocute yourself. So, that's a That's a good skill. So, something that we're really working to you know, develop in here. Also, this is where we are We're partnering with Auburn to try to offer a senior only actual CTE experience in the morning in here as well for next year. So, we'll have an

123Auburn teacher kind of come through a partnership to offer some additional certifications for our students and job pathways along the way for those who You know, I really didn't know what I wanted to do. Now here that construction is probably the best one to offer because that gives them an access to a number of different trades. We'll expose them to carpentry, we'll expose them to masonry, electricity, HVAC, as well as plumbing, and they can go from there and kind of choose that and enjoy the trades in that way, but they'll get experience from all of it along the way. Another thing we are doing in here, which evolved after we kind of really saw the space Once you see how big this space is, we have a garage door that brings supplies in, but also

124we are going to move the plasma cutter from the welding lab into here. And the reason why is that's going to save us I want to say it's two, three thousand dollars annually for supplies. We have to get our supplies from some and cut down, we can get them full normal stock length and cut them ourselves in this space and then bring them into the welding lab actually inside. We can They can cut them in here and move them in here. So, that's It's been a partnership with our welding teacher as well as our construction teacher to kind of say, "Hey, this works out well for for all of us." So, that's that's this space as it is. Butcher block tables kind of fit that idea of construction along the way as on a butcher

125block storage. We kind of put some stuff in but left some dollars to kind of say, "Hey, we're using this. What else do you need?" So, there's going to be storage that goes on the wall to store uh the pallet of 2x4s that we have over there. We're not planning to keep a pallet of 2x4s there. To be honest, we just don't know where the best place to put them up. So, we're going to use it, live in it for a little bit, and then say, "Okay, this wall's probably the best um to go there." So, that's kind of what we were thinking along the way with with this space. So, now we'll go back through the classroom to the actual um maker space. So, this is the start. Um this is our design lab.

126Um and this is where um our manufacturing as well as ultimately we'd like to have this kind of opened up um as well to our community to do that. We have four of these I think we have four or five of these of of these large combo machines. Um they are 3D printers, laser engravers, and CNC machines kind of all in one. They do get vented out. Uh we will have computers that they kind of base off of as well. So, a student designing something where they want to print it, where they want to take from it, um whether it's, you know, all of those sorts of things, they have the opportunity to then um make that work through here um through those machines. Over here is a robotic arm that will eventually get put

127together as soon as we get robotic arm, um, certified. Specifically, it's a Fanuc arm, so there's a Fanuc certification that goes with that as well. Uh, and we do have a welding simulator as well to actually cut down on some of the cost for even our welding program, provide experiences to welding for our younger students they can kind of see what it is, um, without the danger of welding, but also welding's expensive. Um, it's a very expensive program for consumables. They can practice on the simulator and not necessarily have to burn through the consumables until they get to the real thing. So, you can practice a little bit beforehand and then get to weld as well. We do have some tables set up for the middle of this space once we get everything kind of

128installed along the way. Um, there is going to be some venting here. Also, one of the things that we initially had planned and, um, as we started to really think about it, we do offer our medical sciences program in here as well. So, we were going to have what's called an autopsy table. It's a large, basically it's a large flat screen TV, um, that's got a body on it that you can touch. We went and we pivoted off of that, um, and we did that because that was a very expensive purchase and what we found was we're going to buy a number of purchase a number of VR headsets, um, and the actual well they are the autopsy through that. The autopsy table is what you students gather around a table. With the VR headsets,

129the students can put the VR headset on and they can actually work with a partner and they can go through and pick out and do the have the same experience if not better through a VR headset. The other thing through VR, we can offer more opportunities. Uh, the company we are partnering with, Dr. Thompson introduced us to them, they are a, it's called Round Table Learning and they are working to do, um, they do corporate training right now. So, we went to go talk to their their company and visit with them and they were showing us the programs they have. And how do we do this and what kind of And so, Amazon uses them. So, companies like Amazon and Walmart and others use them, um, for their training. So, if they're going to use

130them for their training, our students are going to train on that and we're trying to work with them to kind of have those and those opportunities. Amazon does a simulated warehouse with that where they go in, they put the headset on, they go and pick out certain things um and kind of use the exact equipment that they have in Amazon. It is really kind of crazy. Walmart's got a program where in the Walmart warehouse uh or the Sam's Walmart Sam's Club warehouse one of the jobs they have for their maintenance techs is the the high area that they're high the maintenance tech who works up in the ceiling is paid a lot more than the ones who, you know, work on the ground. Well, everybody wants that at first and what they found is people

131sign up for that and they hire them for that and that that first climb they make, they get stuck and they have to rescue them off the pole. So, this this company came in and they use a VR simulator where they put on the headset and they climb up and can you feel it? And when you put it on and start climbing and you don't leave the floor, you feel like you're up 50 ft in the air. It is it's really kind of a neat experience to do. So, we are trying to provide a a second VR experience for our our career electives as well for our students cuz that's the way of the future training. We know that it is. So, we provide that opportunities. Another one that they offer, they work with a

132train company. And so, train we offer a transportation class. Well, this is a class where they took the entire locomotive operating and you get in and you drive a locomotive. Um I've never actually driven a locomotive. So, we got to get to drive a locomotive. It is really a neat thing as you're working through that and the experience and it's it's pretty lifelike as to how you start and stop it and fix it, some diesel mechanics with it. So, the opportunities to offer more and more classes this way um through technology with our students are great. In the classroom, you can actually then put the software up of what a student's viewing, you can put it up on a screen so everyone can see what that student is seeing. So, it actually will will transmit

133up into either the one television or a teacher's going to have a full, you know, kind of mini screen with all the different things on it. So, that's that's where the other part of this this classroom is going. So, it's going to have that as well. So, any questions about this room? >> I I like the space-saving chair storage. That's great. >> This is all about multi-functionality and how we can use it. I'll I'll show you the great example when we built this space, we thought purposely about location and kind of how else can we use it other than just an educational space. And that's where this next kind of part comes in. So, we can have a little discussion. Somebody just left. So, one of the things that really personally about our building is

134kind of my pet peeve is we offer great programming after school in our auditorium and in our cafeteria. And we invite the whole community, but for our community to access it, they have to walk a long way to kind of come down the main hallway. So, accessib- accessibility for our for our disabled or our elderly is a challenge in this building. So, we designed this space purposely to be the night entrance for high school activities. So, if you look out these double doors, it goes straight to the parking lot. There will be we will when we redo the parking lot this summer, we're going to designate some handicap spaces right out right side of these doors. It comes right into here. These doors go directly to our cafeteria. So, they go directly to our existing

135cafeteria space, which our play is going on right now. So, they go right to that and that access is directly into the auditorium. This goes right into the commons here. So, we offer a lot of events in the commons, so it's a direct pathway to the commons as well. So, it provides really short access and great access for all of our night time programming in the in the auditorium. We can also then close off parts of the school to kind of keep people isolated more into this area. Which so we know we're there and they're not walking through classrooms as well, which is it gives us a better overall look. So that's one of the things we have. Uh single-use restrooms on both sides here as well uh that will be open to students and

136staff um throughout the day. Um but that's kind of when we thought about this in terms of purposeful, this is where we thought of it. The other part is this will be the home of our revised and revamped uh alumni Hall of Fame. So I worked with the Alumni Association they donated a a video view board. We're going to put it on the wall that's right behind Ryan there. It's going to kind of come out and it's going to be a video display similar to the Veterans Kiosk. We're working with um some designers to look at wrapping the wall so it has a whole theme to it, but it'll be a new kind of modernized Hall of Fame we can look up people tell you more about people who are in the Alumni Hall of

137Fame and not just a plaque on the wall. So we're working with all our students to make that work as well. So that's the end of the tour. Any questions? All right. Yeah, good to go. Thanks. >> Appreciate it. >> Thanks guys. Appreciate it. >> Are we done >> All right. >> Are we done with special report? >> I got one more and that's uh >> Oh, yeah. >> Um really annual kind of presentation but this is a especially uh Ms. Gifford came back from Washington D.C. where she did uh she worked with some nutrition service structures of the federal program. Um and so she does have to provide an annual federal programming or nutrition services update. So we kind of partnered that with her uh what she did in terms of uh in D.C.

138to kind of work with that programming as well and kind of how that went. So turn over to her. >> And I will still try to keep it under 10 minutes unless you want to >> I know she was threatened with time. >> And so this year our department has had three state reviews. Um they changed this about five years ago that they do them all in the same year which is great fun. Um we get an administrative review which focuses on our entire program. Uh which includes our benefit issuance of free and reduced price meals, our finances, um health department inspections, everything. Then I also have a resource management review which focuses solely on financial data from the previous year really focusing on ala carte sales. Um making sure that we're not using federal

139funds to supplement um the sale of ala carte items. And then our procurement review which is the most painful um which focuses on purchases made in the prior year making sure that we follow all federal guidelines, get enough quotes, things that went out to bid were bid on properly, etc. So in the administrative review our ODE W specialist comes here. She reviewed Riverview and McKinley Elementary Schools for breakfast and lunch. They usually choose the buildings that have the highest free and reduced price meal percentage. However, our building in our district is Melridge and they were just reviewed 5 years ago. So, they picked the next one, which was Riverview. She observed each building for a full breakfast and lunch service. At Riverview, she actually stayed all day and watched them do prep as well. She

140reviewed menus and documentation for a week in October that she picked that included all the nutrient analysis, all of our menu offerings, making sure that we were compliant with breakfast and lunch offerings. She reviewed about 450 free and reduced price meal applications. We had to print the ones that were online and then some of them were paper, but the majority of our applications are online at this point. So, my assistant had to print all of those and organize them for her. She reviewed all of our standard operating procedures, trainings, operation of our 006 fund. The trainings also included our department has to We have a CEU regulation, right? So, I have to have 15 hours of continuing education training every year. Managers have to have 10 hours. Most other part-time people have to have 6

141hours and then staff under 4 hours have to have 4 hours. So, she checked to make sure that, you know, they all had all of their hours. And we were close, but we also weren't done with the year. So, we got a little grace period. And then we were required to submit a spend down plan for approval. Um we are only allowed to have 3 months operating expenses in our 006 fund. We have I've way more than that over the last several years, and I have been spending down, but I'm also getting revenue, so there hasn't really been any huge purchases. So, this year in our spend down plan, we included providing free breakfast at all elementary buildings, which I plan on doing again next year. Um it'd be great if I could do it

142forever because the year that I stop is going to be really painful. Um and purchase new equipment for several kitchens. We had a walk-in freezer cooler combo for the high school. Um and we had to move our walk-in freezer due to this addition. So, I said, "Well, if we're going to move it, we'll just buy a new one." Which has been really nice. Um new cafeteria furniture for Lamuth Middle School. Um and I bought a new griddle and a two-burner stove for Riverside High School. This is just a breakdown to show the free breakfast uh benefit. I guess our participation increased. You can see last year every elementary school total number of breakfasts served, and then I broke it down by free, reduced price, and paid. And this year, you know, Riverview already through February

143has served 20,432 breakfast meals. Um that's insane. Um and so everyone has increased their participation significantly. Uh Parkside has increased the most because they served the fewest in years past. So, um they went up almost 60%. And then um this beginning of the week, I did attend the School Nutrition Association Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C. We had a lot of training. We discussed the new dietary guidelines for Americans. We lobbied with our congressman and congresswoman for additional funding for school nutrition so we can be compliant with any new rules or guidelines that are enacted, and we shared the School Nutrition Nutrition Association position paper with leaders in Washington. And So, the position paper had three points. Um we were asking for We always ask for universal free meals so that no child goes hungry

144during the school day. We'll be asking till the end of time, but every year they ask We ask for an increase in funding to accommodate any changes made to regulations. We ask for feasible updates to school nutrition guidelines, and then we explained how the $4.70 that we get for every free meal is broken down. They don't really understand, you know, that that $4.70 that we get covers our staffing, their benefits, um equipment repairs, new equipment, and food. Um So, just explaining to them how we stretch that to make it work. Um I think for some of them was eye-opening. Um this is Secretary Kennedy's new dietary guidelines for Americans. So, that was a huge thing that we talked about. Again, not sure anyone everyone knows this, but the USDA bases school nutrition standards on the

145dietary guidelines. How am I doing? Um on the dietary guidelines for Americans. So, some of the things that have been changed They're not bad things. I would I'm excited to see some of these happen. Unfortunately, we don't have funding for them. So, adding more protein at breakfast, reducing sugars, which we've already done over the last 2 years, and saturated fats further than they already are, um those will put a huge strain on our resources if we receive no additional funding. They would like us to do more scratch cooking with real food, real ingredients. Um some of that would require updated equipment. You know, our ovens currently are not equipped to cook from raw. I mean, they can, they're not big enough. Um, you know, we are primarily heat and serve um, kitchens. And then, manufacturers,

146it's a huge issue for them. Um, they need time to reformulate their products to meet any new guidelines. We can't buy them if they don't make them compliant. So, one of the things that we're focusing on is ultra-processed foods, and the government has not defined what that is. So, states are starting to define it. So, New York has a definition, and California has a definition, Maine has a definition. Where you take a company like Smucker's, they can't make Uncrustables for every state. So, we really need some sort of federal guidance to tell us uh, what the expectation is. So, while I was there, we were educated on the new dietary guidelines and making America healthy again. I networked with school nutrition professionals from all over the country. We had every state recognized in the room,

147which was pretty awesome. Represented our district and the state of Ohio and advocated for our students. It was a really cool experience. I've never been to DC, so to be able to go and lobbying was was really um, an awesome experience. And then, just to wrap it up, um, some noteworthy items for the year. We had zero fiscal penal- penalties on our administrative review. We had a couple of corrective actions, um, that we took care of. I'm finalizing the resource management and procurement reviews. We had a significant increase in breakfast participation in the elementary buildings. Um, and through February, we have served 204,533 lunch meals and 102,235 breakfast meals, including Fairport Harbor. And we are once again on target to finish the year in the black with a positive balance. That's it. >> So, um

148the free all the free breakfasts that you're doing this year because of your spend down. >> Yep. We still get to ask for reimbursement for the ones for people who are eligible, correct? Or not anymore? >> So, we get reimbursement for all of them. We get reimbursement based on their eligibility. So, even the paid breakfasts that we are giving away, we get 29 cents a piece. >> Well, >> for them. >> Right. >> Um so, it doesn't change our reimbursement. I'm just not getting the cash in hand. So, we're basically covering the difference. >> And with Fairport's new um building, >> Mhm. >> are they planning on staying with us for service or taking that over? >> So, I believe so. Um they've had a lot of changes. Um their business manager resigned in January.

149And now their superintendent has resigned um effective July 31st. So, the plan was always, you know, it it's not fiscally responsible for them to start a food service program from the ground up. It's really expensive. So, I imagine we will stay. >> Okay. Mr. Thank you for the thorough presentation. I'm pretty sure you and your team It's really impressive to see this many numbers just in breakfast alone. I know that's probably not an easy feat. Um question specific to the Eagle food, when you say additional funding, is that something that you would be waiting for HHS to offer or is it something that would be here at this table? Where where would that come from? >> So, it comes from it comes from the federal government. So, the USDA is actually where we get our

150funding from, but the HHS has to, you know, like so it it's a trickle down, right? They make the dietary guidelines, USDA says, "Okay, now we have to make these for schools. Now, we're going to need a little more money, you know, to fund these changes." So, they go to the federal government to get it. >> So, the nutritional standards, eat real food as it's being called, I see. Is there a deadline to reach those goals? >> We don't know. Um we we don't We don't really know a bunch of anything. Um so, part of what we were talking to the congressmen and women about was, you know, we can't do this in 90 days. >> Sure. >> You know, we we don't have a quick turnaround for large changes. Like, you're reducing sodium and

151um sugar in items that they haven't even started formulation on. You know, that's going to take some time. >> My question is, because I'm I'd be concerned if there was a deadline that they gave you, let's say, 2027, but you know, no funding tied to it. >> No, there Right now, the 2027 deadline we have is just for reduced sugar, and that's already been on the table. So, we've been anticipating that. Um Yeah. >> Mhm. >> We did just receive a deal of policy regarding food service directly, and it just came the other day, and it's dealing with um I'm thinking of like fake proteins or protein modifications. I'll I'll send it to you, obviously, as well to look at it, but there are some Some of those are making it into >> It is

152fake meat. >> Yeah, it's fake meat. Yeah, that's it's a fake meat. >> Yeah. >> Policy. >> The 3D printed meat. >> Interesting. Yeah, so they want us to serve, which is great. I mean, I would love to serve chicken breasts right from the um farm, but it's a lot of money. >> So, you know, there's a recommendation that we will share with with policy committee as well after we run through >> Yeah. >> Anything else? >> Get that chicken. Can we get that chicken from the directly from the farm for central office? >> That would be great. >> What time does your CF get in in the morning when they have to serve that many breakfasts? >> Um the high school >> You raise them, kill them. >> Uh-huh. Um, and the elementary start

153at 7:00. So, they start at 7:00 and breakfast starts They start serving lunch here around 7:45. And then everyone gets off the bus at >> And what time does the high school start? >> High school, the staff starts at 5:15. The manager does. And she starts prepping because the first breakfast line comes through about 6:45. >> Kudos to them. >> They're They're in bed by like 7:00. >> Yeah. >> Um, thank you. >> All right. Well, that concludes my reports. Thank you. >> All right. Then that brings us to unfinished business. So, we had um, a request I get an update on the status of LLB. Um, we do not have the email list yet, unless something has changed in the last couple days. Nobody's received it? >> No. >> So, that is the status?

154>> Yeah. >> All right. >> It's fine. >> Um There was a couple other things presented, but I believe they have been taken care of and uh, so finances and cost containment we talked about during the working session. And Buckeye pricing came up in special reports. Um So, those two things I hope were We're good with or any other discussion on them? >> None on those. I got the finance and cost containment we we talked about, but uh, uh, vouchers is another place to talk about that. >> are um, on the board business, so where there is opportunity for discussion at that time. Okay? Um, so that brings us to new business. So, we had um, pulling out an agenda item to vote separately. Um, Ms. Brewster. >> I just wanted clarification for the whole

155board cuz we have so many members, but um, yeah, and I just wanted to be clear now that we're voting on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. It doesn't um, in other words, any board member without a vote can s- take out an item >> on the consent agenda to vote on separately. >> And I believe you can pull it out at any time. And >> Right, it doesn't have to be done at the beginning. >> have to be done at the beginning. >> Okay, I just wanted clarification so we're all on the same page. >> I don't know that the public's aware that we moved to approving the agenda. >> Yes. >> We did add that from the board retreat because they were Yes. >> Yeah, so as part of our, uh,

156work session or board retreat that we did on last Friday, um, one of the adjustments we made to the agenda is that up at the front of the agenda we are now voting to approve what is on the agenda, meaning nothing could be added, um, during the meeting and nothing can be removed, but as Ms. Brewster said, we can pull something out of consent agenda to be voted on separately. Just to make everyone aware. It's a change and >> And then instead of old business we're saying, um, >> unfinished. >> Um, so that brings us to new business. So we're still on new business, sorry. Um, Ms. Brewster also had an item of transparency. >> Okay. Just said, I think that we're moving through that process, um, you know, by having these financial discussions. Um,

157it things are changing rapidly at the state level. Um, just being on the legislative, um, you know, um, report um, and talking with Dr. Rotino, I mean, it every day you find out, well, no, now this doesn't look like it's going to go. Well, this could be a major concern for us. So when I give my report, you know, you'll see what I'm talking about, but, um, also when we're in committees, I know like in the finance personnel committee, um, we kind of do a gen, um, agenda review. And you know, we're going through certain things and I I we covered it all, but there were two things that weren't mentioned. So, I just want to make sure that we're hearing it because I don't want to read it um when the agenda's published. I

158want to know, you know, in that particular forum. That's why we have a committee to talk about what's going to be on the agenda and we understand >> So, I believe the items that you're referring to, they were discussed like in an executive session saying we were going to add it and also um doing the previous um uh regular meeting. So, they they were discussed ahead of time, so I'm not sure why they didn't come up >> No, I think too typically in the finance we talk about big things to vote on in the finance section. The agenda review and the agenda build when we traditionally have the finance meetings is a week before. We don't build the agenda until um usually it's it's 2 days the Monday it's the week of the agenda going

159out. So, we're kind of continuing to finalize what's on there. So, that's not and this this was the anomaly to be completely honest, but this is um you know, myself, Dr. Thompson, Ms. Crissman, he sent me to really build the agenda now and we're making that up. Another great It's a It's a best practice. So, we review the agenda kind of all the way through and make sure that it's there. So, in the finance committee that agenda is some of the um like the the larger ticket items that we know are going to be on the ass. Um so, they you know, we we don't want you know, well, why is this high dollar amount or why is this you know, kind of funding thing on there. So, that's that's the reason for that. Um

160all of the personnel and all that, they're not they're not um usually finalized till >> Right. >> If we're meeting at 8:30, 8:29. You know, cuz we're we're trying to get as many as we can on to not have um any additions to the end or we would say at 8:30, hey, we're waiting on cuz you're waiting on background checks and I mean like we're waiting on something to add it to it. So, we there are times when we wait up till we use our 48 hours to make sure that they're there. We don't want any surprises, so we'll talk to Ms. Crissman about hey, this is we're waiting on what's coming, but that's part of the agenda review or build it out. >> All right, sounds good. Yeah, I mean I think one of

161the best practices is again that we've just made that motion that we have to approve the agenda and nothing can be added throughout the board table either, right? So, everything will be on that agenda 48 hours beforehand and there'll be no surprises. So. Sounds good. Um next piece of new business um kind of lumps together, there's two of them. So, board open office hours and special committees um Ms. Grassia brought up. So, um the board open office hours, I had a chance to briefly chat with Mr. McIntyre just kind of getting some of the legal concerns that we have with that. Um and not sorry on the spot, but can you kind of give us some of those legal concerns that come with that? >> Sure. So, we started talking about this, I believe it

162was at our January board meeting and I had a chance to just briefly address it with the board at that time. Really, the concerns are twofold. And they're logistical concerns that kind of bleed into potential legal concerns. So, I certainly love this idea of board members connecting directly with community members, uh parents, uh perhaps even staff members who want to ask a question or raise a concern or just share a perspective. The difficulty becomes that if you feel as a board member an obligation to respond to a question or to a concern, you have to ask yourself, are you responding to that question or concern as an individual board member or on behalf of the whole board? If you're responding to it on behalf of the whole board, then really it needed to have been

163discussed with the whole board and then the board to take a position on it, hopefully a unanimous one, but if not, at least consensus one. That's probably not often going to be the case in these situations. In other words, you may be hearing things for the first time and then called upon to provide some kind of response that hasn't really been shared with your fellow board member board members and acted on. You know, through the deliberation and voting process even if necessary. So, you might say, "Well, I'll identify myself as an individual board member and then I'm not speaking on behalf of the whole board in my response or in my answer to a question." And that would be a very good step to take, but I'm just not sure that that would fully um

164cover the interests here. The reason being is that I think as you probably all know to one extent or another, uh when when you speak on something, um many people will, no matter what disclaimer you provide, will conclude that you are speaking for the whole And and then there's an added concern whereas if one board member is being able to speak on something before other board members have had a chance to even hear about it, then then maybe those other board members who haven't had a chance to hear about it are going to feel restricted or limited in the options available to them based on the board member who did hear and did respond already. So, there's that. So, that's sort of one set of concerns. The other set of concerns is that I I

165feel very strongly, and this is embedded in your board policy on multiple occasions, that people that have concerns about specific things really ought to address those with um the individuals to which or to whom they pertain. So, for example, in our public complaint board policy, which I think is 9130, we have a structured system. When somebody has a complaint, you if it involves an instructional or teacher-related issue, you go to the teacher first, and you try to address it and solve it and talk about it. And then, if you're unsuccessful, then you can kind of ratchet it up um through the organization, um ultimately all the way to the board. But, there are multiple opportunities for the district to address those concerns, and they really start with the people who are dealing with the issue,

166um sort of boots-on-the-ground, front lines kind of way. Um a related issue to that is that I firmly believe that even if this isn't an issue that would involve a teacher or another staff member or or even a principal, um that somebody would want to go to our superintendent or our treasurer and have that conversation with them. Not uh instead of having a conversation with the board, but also. And so, I just think it's critical to an organization's success that your CEO and your CFO are um able to field those concerns, address many of them successfully, and if not, perhaps have to take it to the board, or at least brief the board on what has been done, so that when the problem or when the issue comes to the board, that the board's fully

167apprised of the situation and can um discuss it from a an informed um state of mind. So, those are logistical issues that kind of bleed into legal issues. Um And I'm I'm And I want to emphasize that I well, it may not sound like it, I really believe that it makes sense to connect with your community and to be there uh and to have those kinds of exchanges, but um that particular approach has some issues associated with it. Happy to answer any questions. >> How is it any different than being out in the community and hearing those things anyway? Somebody comes up, you're at a basketball game, they're going to come and they're going to say it They're going to say it there, they're going to say it here. Like, I'm just asking, what is

168the difference? That my fellow board members won't be apprised of that conversation, either. >> No, I I I think it's a very good question. The difference for me is that when it is uh sort of the extension of the board's will to create these opportunities, um it's as if the board is um putting their stamp of approval on it, and um and in fact, creating uh a formal process for allowing someone to come forward. And and I think with it comes a lot of those expectations that I mentioned that people will have uh, with regard to how board members respond to a concern or a question. Uh, you know, to me that's very different than, you know, running into at the I don't know, neighborhood block party or the Giant Eagle and and bending your

169ear about a particular concern they have. But but you're right because there is some overlap and and you should be giving that disclaimer if you are responding at the neighborhood block party to a particular question or concern that you are just one board member and that it is the will of the full board that really dictates your decision-making. >> Any other questions on that topic? So, why I said it kind of lumps together with the idea of the committees because that's another option, right? If we want to form special committees, maybe one to meet with the staff. I don't know what that looks like. We started to talk about it last year, but it didn't go too far. Um, you know, we can definitely do that. We can do a a special committee for staff,

170a special committee for the community, um, students is a little bit of a challenge. Um, there's some concerns about the students and if there's filming and like those kind of ideas, so we just have to be careful there. But that is an option for us, too. So, I just that was one of the other ideas that had come up. >> And I think when we had discussed it previously, it wasn't it needs to be a committee that meets regularly. It was something that, okay, well, maybe this one meets once every quarter and this one meets once every quarter, whatever it may be. Um, I I think we had said that that it important to get some perspective from individuals that was not always through intermediary um and that was direct. Sometimes people are more willing

171to say things I I don't know. Like it I thought maybe that it would be beneficial. >> Yeah. No, I I I do see it being beneficial. I guess my question is how do the two differ? I mean it sounds sounds like your concerns would apply to both scenarios if I heard you correctly. >> Uh they they do, but it would be incumbent on the board to define its expectations for the committee in those situations. Um It it would be a I think a a situation where uh Likely it would be a open public meeting because it's a board committee and there would be minutes and there would be an agenda. There would be um more structure to it. And so I think in that way it's a little more manageable. Um But but you're

172you're right. You're >> I mean we really did just put all the committee definitions and their purposes and what they're supposed to do, we put that into the board handbook. It would just be a matter of maybe exploring what that would look like and investigating and writing up description and passing that through legal to figure out what that might look like. I recognize and realize that it probably isn't going to get done in a week. It's not going to happen instantaneously that that process would probably take some thought that goes into how that would look, but I think it's useful. >> And I know we're working through the strategic plan. We're talking about future funding. We're going to have groups for that. Um and some are formed, but is it like a superintendent's like when

173you do the focus groups? >> So we do have focus groups that are with the strategic plan where we have um we have staff specifically staff um focus group set up. We have We called for open community meetings and then we do have some targeted community meetings where we're asking some specific community members to participate in those as well. So we do have some sessions set up for that and then guided around specific questions. >> And maybe it would be interesting if during those focus groups they we could get some input on what kind of communication from the different groups would you like to see and what kind of what kind of touch points would you like to have with certain with administrators or with board members or whatever and see what it is that

174the those groups actually have to say about that and maybe we could start from there. >> I I think our I mean I'll be honest our challenge with our current like open community groups is getting people to sign up. Um and and to kind of come and give and I think we you know we were on the front page of the News-Herald at one point like person um for our for our use of you know way we're certain community input and still don't have We have some but not necessarily representative of input that I think we would like. Maybe the dates are bad. We could add another date. >> Well but when when you talk about like staff and students that we we're already doing that and >> No we don't need them to sign

175up for like we are doing it. Is our open is is our open community that we are >> And maybe those are the folks that we would like to start with. >> We took So we we took tonight as an opportunity for even our seniors who attended our seniors who attended to give us their name and email and then we will send them directly the link to the survey that's a part of it to get their feedback as well assuming they're residents of the district. >> What what if these were led by let's say hypothetically Ms. Grossi and I attended we were scheduled to attend that listening session with whomever the audience would be but it was led by the administration and we weren't there to respond. Granted, the last time this happened Mount Vesuvius

176erupted, but aside from that, if this was actually sanctioned by the board as a policy to move forward and they were the ones who were responding, I don't know if there's a temperature for that. >> understanding to that and maybe is I can form a superintendent's committee at any time and we can't have board member participation. I don't know what the limit of numbers to that is. Um but I think and that does not make that does not fall under the public meetings act. So that could be a specific group of stakeholders and key communicators. >> Yeah. >> I think it's one cuz once you have two, it's a committee. >> Mhm. >> Right? >> I I I >> Once you have three, it's a board meeting. >> I know that. Three's a quorum, so

177three's out. Three's not allowed, but it's one or two is a gray area? >> So I mean I I I would agree. I I would to be safe, I would recommend that it would just be one board member at at a superintendent's committee. But but you're you're right to say that many districts would have up to two. Uh I'm just not as comfortable with that, especially if it's a a board endorsed approach. You know, then it's getting very close to being a a board committee if it's a board board endorsed superintendent's committee. >> Yeah, just or a special committee at that point, right? >> I would think yes. >> So uh Miss Graffey had asked can we just collect some feedback, kind of wondering get the temperature, is there any way to somehow work that

178in to part of what >> We can try. >> Okay. >> Yeah, we can we can definitely work that out. >> see what what what it is that they are thinking that could look like from their perspective. Or even from the administration, if you're meeting with them, see what their appetite is to You know what I mean? >> Mhm. >> So Dan Dan, you uh there are no you don't know you're unaware of any other districts that have a committee like what we're talking about and that we could use as a template. >> I have to give back to you on some thought. >> Okay. >> I think at one point Concord Township had office hours with their trustees before trustee meetings. And I'd love to know how they did that. Do you know what

179I mean? Like how did they structure that? I don't know cuz I'm I'm assuming that they probably have the same issue. They're public bodies, so >> I thought Andy Rhodes has some kind of coffee thing and I don't know if he relates it to the trustees. >> I don't know. Before meetings they would have they would actually have open office hours. I don't know who attended. >> Yeah, but I don't know what their rules are. There's three of them. >> I don't either. So >> It It could be that that is their time for public comment >> I don't know. >> that's open to >> But maybe we could ask, right? Like I have no idea. >> Sure. >> Great. That was all that we had for new business. So that brings us to our

180Board of Education Committee and Liaison reports. First one is Buildings and Grounds Operations Committee and Strategic Plan Liaison, Mrs. Grossi. >> me. We didn't have a meeting, so I'm going to keep that short. And strategic plan, we talked about that at our board retreat and we will be having focus groups that are meeting throughout the month. >> Survey, too. >> And survey. >> Survey's coming out as well. >> So great opportunity if you want to get involved. If you're watching this, please join us for the survey or the um or the meetings that are coming up. >> out yet? >> No. So when it is, I'm sure it's going to be out online and and we'll push that out. >> Yeah, we will push it out. We will put it online. We will get it

181to as many people as we can. >> And that was April, right? That >> I believe the goal is to have it out by April. >> No, I was joking for the whole plan. Yes, I'm joking. I was waiting for Dr. Malapert, but she didn't hear me. That's okay. >> She wanted to know what the strategic plan was. >> Oh, April 1st. Yeah, right. >> All right. Anything else? >> Nope, I don't have anything else. >> All right, that brings us to curriculum and programming committee and booster organization liaison, Mr. Audino, please. >> We also didn't have a meeting due to the proximity of the last month's meeting. As for boosters, we only have a few meetings a year, so I'll probably be a few months before having an update. And then I'm sure Dr.

182Rotino / Dr. Malakar is going to update us on the 10th grade reality tour, which would be the only update we would have. >> Thank you. Um, policy committee and legislative liaison, Ms. Brewster. >> Okay, well, tonight on our agenda we have the second reading of the policies, so we will be voting on them. And um, I know that um, uh, you know, I have a summary of all of them, but I didn't know if there were any questions that Dr. Rotino I could answer. Um, one of the things that is included in there that I just wanted to um, mention is um, there's a lot of discussion right now at the state level about the NIL, the name, image, and likeness of um, athletes. And um, but we still have to have a policy

183even though there may be some changes, we still have to be on record for having a policy. Okay, cuz it's in a state of flux, right, Dr. Rotino? >> Well, OHSAA adopted it and they have a policy, so the Ohio High School Athletic Association has a has a case and then we have to adopt a policy based on what their their there is there is legislation introduced in the general assembly um, to basically ban NIL. Um, and I think that will be challenged in courts and I don't know where it's going to go. I mean, NIL is a big thing. I think 38 states right now have NIL for high schools. I OHSAA's policy is very school friendly um, from that standpoint cuz it puts a lot of the onus on the athlete as well

184as the OHSAA and takes it out from us. So. >> And then I know you put it in your superintendent report, but we've discussed it at other board meetings about the new entrance requirements for students entering preschool, kindergarten, or first grade that you must be a certain age by the first day of school, correct? >> Yeah, and it's important to note that that changes every year. So, I think there's a lot of confusion with that because the the traditional September 1st or or September 30th or August 1st date, it's going to shift every single year. So, we'll get questions about my son will be 5 till August 26th 2027 and the date this year is August 24th. I'm just making these dates up to be completely transparent. Um and the answer really is we don't

185know what the date is yet cuz the board hasn't approved the calendar. It's a good thing we are 2 years out with our calendar, which really helps with planning. But we haven't approved the calendar for next year. So, once we approve the calendar and that will be in April cuz it has to be 30 days from the last. Once you approve that calendar, then we will get those dates out as soon as we can for this is the kindergarten date and this is the preschool date for the next school year. >> Okay. And then a lot of the other policies had to do with Dr. Thompson and with budget preparation, purchasing and bidding, procurement of federal funds and grants, and use of credit cards, and it just goes on and on. Tax exempt vendor relations,

186so on and so forth. And then there was one at the the last one there that had to do with AI and teachers and students have have had input in drafting and formulating guidelines in our district, correct? >> Correct. >> And so, you know, we have to have something there. We do have Magic School, which acts as a filter, and and that's been a good thing, correct? >> So, we are we did use Magic School for your Magic School. It's an AI program. We are looking um as part of our cost containment situations and using the Google product. We found a way that we get a different filter, we can filter Google. The issue with AI itself is filtering the AI um the AI language model so that when it goes out and searches it

187it is also filtered. So we found a different filter. Mr. Randle found one that actually will filter Gemini, which is Google's, which provides us with the savings for that. So Magic School we will go back to >> the free version of Magic School for our staff and then provide Google Gemini for our staff and students once we get the filter in place and everything kind of set up in those domains so for next year. >> And Dr. Thompson, did you have anything about the policies? I know you've gone over a lot of those changes with us. >> Yeah, and we are implementing them as they affect staff members as well. So that's pretty consistent. Um So I'm I think we're in good good spot at this point. >> Sounds good. All right, and then I

188know we have our next meeting on is it April 14th? I don't know. Hold on. Do you have the calendar there? >> We do. April 14th. >> April 14th at 7:00 and I know Mr. McIntyre's working on two policies for us that we discussed and so we'll be able to talk further about those that we talked about our board work session. And then as far as legislative liaison, two bills that Dr. Tino mentioned to me, one of them was Ohio Senate Bill 19, which would allow a public school student who scored below proficient in a state assessment test in math or English language arts to receive academic intervention services at no cost. And it's going to the house for consideration. Is that right? >> It is. It's actually in the house now. That one is

189getting a lot of traction and will be There will be a vote to it. We know um some of our school advocates are working to take the high dosage true requirement out because of the cost to it. This is unfunded. Um and work through the MTSS process and put that specifically in there. We know MTSS works. We have a good MTSS process here even. So, to make sure that that process is in there. So, they are There going to be some updates to it, but it is There will be something that comes out by the end of um this this legislative session. >> Okay, cuz originally they tried to model it after the reading with the RIP plan. They wanted to make that MIP whatever plan. But, no. That would be labor intensive for teachers.

190>> And and even at the governor's state of the state um address, he did not mention math. People were thinking he was going to mention math. He did not. He talked a lot more about reading um and still about that. So, I think that's a point to note. Not that it's going to change the set and the general assembly wants math. And they want to address math, but I think they're they're putting some common sense. They're listening to um some changes that are out >> But, is this primarily but everything I read had to do with third grade math? >> Uh it's with all math. It's with It's with any tested math grade. >> Any math. >> Yes. >> Okay. All right, so that's um Senate Bill 19. >> Yes. >> Then there's um this

191uh that you just gave me an update tonight. I'm telling you this is how quickly it changes. House Bill 420 that um talks about the continuous levies. What that would mean if it evolved if it was going forward, but you're saying it's not getting traction is that um all of the levies that we have at Riverside are continuous. So, what happens is that it would end those. That there would be an it like the They just go don't go on and on and on. They would give them a life of maybe 10 years and then you'd have to vote for them again. >> 5 years. I think it >> 2030. >> Yeah, I think they're looking to sunset it quicker. >> Yeah. >> I Just to clarify, it's not getting any traction now. Um I

192it doesn't mean it won't get traction, but right as of current right now, it's it's kind of staying in committee and hasn't moved at all. >> It's called an emergency operating levy. >> They they would make all of them fix some emergency operating, which we would be on the ballot all the time. >> Wow. >> And this was giving us some way to convert uh to fixed term or renewed levies prior to 2030. >> So some of the levies >> far off. >> Yeah. >> So that that was a little scary reading about that. >> That would be a little bit backwards. We did all We did a lot of hard work to get all those levies turned into continuous levies and when we did that and >> purposefully. >> Yes. >> Okay. And then

193the other one I just recently read about um and uh it's called House Bill 715 would add charter school requirements. We often say that um some of the private schools are not held accountable like we are for our test scores. And so basically the Department of Education and Workforce um wants them to post annual data um that would include, you know, what how students are performing in these areas and um compare their academic performance data of scholarship students in chartered nonpublic schools with similar students in nearby schools. So um that was interesting because we know we've talked about vouchers, state scholarship programs under the bill include the EdChoice Scholarship Program, uh Autism uh Scholarship Program, John Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program, and the Cleveland Scholarship Program. So we're starting to hear about accountability. >> one

194of these comes up almost annually. >> It does, but whether it goes anywhere we don't know. >> it they usually just sit there. >> but it's I just wanted to >> Yeah. >> to mention that. >> I I agree with that. I think it's a good thing, but they never >> Okay. So unless there's any other questions, that's my report. >> Thank you. And that brings us to Superintendent's Business Advisory. Um I was unable to make the meeting this morning, so Dr. >> low turnout, and I'll get to a lot of the highlights in my update, so >> So, we do not have an update at this time. >> Yep, absolutely. >> All right, that brings us to the Superintendent's report. >> All right. Um it's a great month. Um first thing I want to

195do is just provide the board with an update on Moody's, as we talked about Buckeye tonight. Uh we did meet with Moody's again on February 25th virtually. Uh we went to Moody's Chicago to review the the updated current uh requested cops issuance. Uh one point of discussion through that is was actually the piggyback in the property tax legislation Ohio, uh that it was problematic and our forecast looked different than the last time we met with Moody's, uh and explaining the reason why. Uh they were very understanding to that. And we maintained our double A three rating um for general borrowing and our A1 cops rating. So, we're really excited. That's great news from that, considering um we were showing a deficit a little bit earlier than we previously expected. So, that's great news from there

196um in that part. Um on March 2nd, we held our last PD day for the school year, and this is probably one of my favorite. It was awesome. Uh it was really a time for our teachers to share out all of the great things that they did throughout the year. We allowed them um and we encouraged we we had them pick a topic of personalized learning, flexible learning, student engagement, or evidence of learning and more. That was really kind of to them and do some investigation and work on creating an action plan um and a and a goal for how to get better. Uh on the second, they shared that to their colleagues and had some conversations about what they learned, what their challenges were, um and kind of how they continued to to move

197forward and move through those. And it was just when you walked around, it was there there was engagement, there was uh our our colleagues, they were bragging to one another, "Hey, I did this. I did that." Our classified staff was engaged throughout the day with different types of trainings along the way. And then we ended the day with an all-staff meeting in the auditorium. So, we put all we put all 600 into that auditorium, kind of sat them down, and went through some just some highlights of the year and and another opportunity to thank them. And March isn't really a great time to thank them all because we still have you know and we're getting into spring break, which is a really tough month. March is awful in the education world until spring break. But

198really got a chance to got a chance to bring them in and and thank them for all of their work this year for being such a successful year. And you know kind of setting and level setting as we move forward. So, we celebrated the retirements that we had at that point. We will do that again in May this year with our annual staff kind of cookout. But really wanted to have an opportunity to have those retirees stand up. A lot of them were not there for their last day, which was unfortunate. But we also had an opportunity. It was just really kind of a a great high-energy day and really some of the things our staff are doing with for kids are amazing. Between how they're utilizing AI and sharing some of those AI utilization

199things to make and personalize lessons and opportunities for kids to how they're increasing engagement in their classroom to how they're kind of you know our career electives got to share some of their things and how they're using that to drive a curriculum. So, gave our staff a whole different opportunities for that. So, kudos to Dr. Melcher and her team. >> Is there a date for the cookout yet? >> Uh no. >> Okay. Thank you. >> So, out of our business advisory group was the idea of this Riverside reality tour. So, on March 5th, our 10th grade high schools participated in their first-ever reality tour. This was a huge undertaking for our sophomores. We had 15 business owners come in to speak to students and then students go out to the community to visit local businesses.

200That's a challenge enough and it was a significant challenge, but to make it tougher, um we decided to kill the power to the move uh cancel the move once the kids are on the bus so delay the whole thing. So um to add stress to the to the the buses were supposed to leave by 9:00 um they did not get there till 10:00 or so and just to watch them pivot. Uh we also had these scheduled online SAT that day for our juniors. Uh you can't take an online test when the internet's out. So there was a whole lot of pivoting going out throughout this entire campus, but to see uh our staff as led by Dr. Locker pull that off um and to kind of work and move um and and shift things. They

201were going to Lakeland and we called Lakeland and said, "Yeah, we're a little late. Um we don't have power in one of our buildings." Um to kind of see that happen along with picking up, you know, all of our students and facilitating a uh pick up at the high school, getting our buses and everything else. It was a it was a really big lift in the first place to do the first ever at anything grade wide. If you you add that little wrinkle to it, it was a huge lift and I I got to say that the committee um pulled it off great. They the businesses they went to um were amazing. They went to businesses um and saw more than just what that So they went to Adventure Subaru and they talked to Adventure

202Subaru not about the car sales, uh but they talked about um the legal parts of it, the financing parts of it, the the different parts that go into all of that business. They went to um both the the uh the city of they went to city of Painesville, uh the different opportunities that are open there. Um Uh where where was >> Oh, they went to UH. They went to Component Repair Technology. They went to um Classic Hyundai. There were 15 businesses that we did um across the board. Was it the Y? Yeah, that was the Y. They went to the Y cuz we wanted them to see a nonprofit organization but that you can have a career in a nonprofit organization. So, it was And then, in the morning, they each heard from Sorry, I'm

203stealing your time. >> No, that's all right. >> Um they heard from entrepreneurs. So, they got to hear the story from different entrepreneurs, at least three of them they heard from. Um because a lot of our students think about starting a business or want to start a business, and they need to know the good, bad, and the ugly of that. So, we had There was no tech involved with that. They just the the entrepreneurs and the small businesses in the community came in and um ladies and gentlemen did double duty for us. They came in as entrepreneurs to talk in the morning and then took kids in um to show them the business, why it works. And Wickliffe um came in and talked in the morning and had students out in the afternoon. If I

204forgot anyone, I apologize um because everybody was fantastic that day. It was a great day. >> I got to witness it firsthand. Well, at least the entrepreneurs. The Luling thing also threw a wrinkle cuz I had to turn into dad and go pick up my daughters. They were like, "Come to the high school and pick me up." I said, "I'm already here." Uh anyhow, the entrepreneurs really stepped up. It's daunting to go into a 10th grade classroom at 7:30 in the morning and present a something to them, and they were kind of speaking off the cuff, but still had a presentation put together. Like you said, it was no technology. They were just standing in front of the group, and it was neat seeing the teacher and the students interact with them and be pretty

205engaged despite of being in the morning. So, but nice job. >> So, thank you um to our business owners as well as um Dr. Melocker, who was proud of who did a lot of the legwork for some of it, and and our teachers. Um because anytime you change the the day, throw a wrinkle into it, it does cause some stress. So, they were able to kind of adapt and overcome, and you really make it happen. And then you throw in the no power and everything else, it was a it was an interesting day. We were tired at the end of it, that's for sure. So. When it sports update, uh a lot of good news that came from our boys basketball team was district champs. They beat Solon in the semi-finals and North Canton whoever

206were in the finals and advanced to regionals for the first time. Uh, they made it to Kent State last night and unfortunately lost to North Royalton. So, their season is over, but great season for them. Uh, gymnastics, they're they're killing it again. They went to states. Uh, Mia Petrovic uh, placed 13th in the floor event and Allison Ervin placed 17th. Allison Ervin is amazing as an athlete because just prior to did gymnastics, I think I'll get to that next slide. I think it's on here next. Um, I'm going to skip ahead one. She was in the indoor track meet. So, she goes to the indoor track meet and placed second in the 60-meter hurdles. Drives down to Columbus and competes in the state gymnastics meet all in the same day. If I did either one

207of those, I would be out for three. So, it was just an amazing an amazing feat for for her specifically just to highlight cool. Just to highlight her, but then um, wrestling finished third overall at sectionals uh, having seven uh, district qualifiers. Kamari Jordan, Tristan O'Kelly, Ben Hensley, Madison Van Pel or Mason Van Pel, Nick Hanson and Dom Botiggi. Unfortunately, none of them finished fourth or higher to make it to states this weekend. Uh, but a great a great um, showing by them. Our girls wrestling team in the second year. Uh, London Davis was a sectional champion and district runner-up and London is headed to the state wrestling tournament this weekend in Columbus. So, congratulations to her. Lizette Rodriguez was a district qualifier and I think she finished fifth if I'm not quite sure or

208sixth. She just missed it. She was on that edge, but um, you know, that again second year of a program and we've already got someone in the state final trying to get a a state uh, place for it. So, that's that's great. Indoor track, um, Kendall McHale placed fourth in the 60-meter dash. Mark Koji was third in the shot put. Uh Josh Porter was ninth. We have two phenomenal shot putters in the state meet. Uh was 11th in the weight throw, which is only indoor competition. And then I mean we mentioned Allison Herbis already. Um and academic decathlon. So, not only athletics, but academics are our academic decathlon team competed at the state competition at JCU last weekend. So, there's a lot going on here last Friday. Um buses coming in and out trying to

209get people where they want. Um our senior Andrew uh Kastner picked up four gold medals and three silver medals on the way to winning the large school honor division. I It's amazing. Uh Sophia Alexander earned the team a second consecutive speech showcase and won her first state gold medal for her speech. And Sarah Harrigan, Hunter Russell, Shambhavi Sajiv, uh Kira Ziga also earned medals. And I know a lot of those names are also involved in the theater production uh this weekend, which is Oh. After citizen appre- senior citizen appreciation night. So, tonight we have more than 200 Just before this, we uh fed more than 250 seniors for our bi-annual senior appreciation night. They enjoyed a free meal prepared um by our principal of foods class. Uh they they serve it to them. It's just

210a It's a phenomenal night. Then they got to uh head next door to see the uh premiere of our spring musical Between the Lines, um which is uh There's two more showings. There's tomorrow night at 7:30 and Saturday night at 7:30. Tickets can be purchased either on the website or there are some available at the door. Um and it's and I I've heard nothing but great reviews from that as well as the the acting and performances amazing. And we're getting ready for kindergarten. Kindergarten registration, as we talked about a little bit in policy update, is coming up. Um it's begins March 30th to register online. Please make sure we do that uh for the class of 2039. Um The class of 2039 will be registering, um One of the things we have started, which is

211a fantastic program, is kindergarten kickoff. That's May 7th from 5:30 to 7:30 at each elementary school, at your zoned elementary school. Um we ask that people register for that ahead of time. Hopefully you're registering for kindergarten. It does allow us to kind of plan for kindergarten. We will be doing kindergarten camp as well this year with our kindergarteners, so really excited for that. Um for that program. So, um if you have a 5-year-old by What's the date? >> The 24th. >> By By the 24th. So, if if your son our son or daughter turns 5 by August 24th, make sure you register them for kindergarten. And finally, the Easter egg hunt is here again. Uh Saturday, April 4th on the front lawn of the campus. Uh we are doing a delayed start for the Easter

212egg hunt, so it's going to be from 12:00 to 12:02. We're going to try to extend it by uh twice as long this year. Um hopefully we're not expecting any snow. Uh we have had it before, so dress appropriately. We will uh we will pick up eggs rain, shine, snow, hail. It's the It's the USPS of Easter egg hunts. So, as long as it's not lightning, we're going to have kids out there picking up those eggs. Um What am I missing? Like 12:00 to 12:02 and 12:02 to 12:04? So, it literally lasts a minute. They put It's 20,000 eggs, I think, and it takes a minute to pick it up. It is so fun to watch. >> It's So, I'm going to have to >> Don't be late. Yeah, yeah, don't be late. >> Has

213anyone told you you're the Easter Bunny this year? Oh, I would love to >> The suit's too big. It's too long. My It falls down. >> Um and finally, um looking for all singers out there, RHS is inviting you to perform in the Riverside Alumni Community Choir concert on May 23rd. Rehearsal dates are listed above. If you are interested, it's on the website or you can uh you can access the website to fill out the form as well as a QR code that is there. Uh they'll take you even if you can't carry a tune. So, uh please join um for that. It is for community members or alumni, either one. That concludes my reports. >> Thank you. Uh that brings us to the treasurer's report and committee updates. So, first is finance, audit, personnel

214committee, and alumni association, Mr. Byers. >> Okay, we did have a meeting Tuesday. Um we have one retirement. She's not even paying attention. >> No. >> I am. I heard it. Just one. >> She's retired. Congratulations and thank you for uh your service and uh and enjoy. Um and that brings us to uh peak hiring season. Uh we have we registered four different job >> fairs. Um >> And we're trying to get postings out before or just after spring break break through multiple channels, which would uh cover both exempt and certified employees. The uh staffing survey went out and close and closes tomorrow. And this helps with short-term, long-term staffing needs. We had 300 responses as of Tuesday. >> We're almost at 400. >> There we go. Um there was an updated classified and exempt

215staff evaluation form that mirrors the image of Riverside Beaver, a portrait of a Riverside Beaver. Um then we had a we have a uh updates to administrative handbook that Chris has started um working on. And then there are a few items on here that I'll touch on briefly that we're going to vote on later. Uh SchoolLinks renewal, which is K through 12 college guidance and readiness software and uh career assessments and sends transcripts transcripts to colleges. There is an NWEA renewal. That's our testing software for K through 12 for achievements for achievement and gifted. And that's uh test three times a year. >> Correct. >> And that is actually paid out of the gifted funds. We have a contract for CDWG for Chromebooks for first and seventh grades. We are looking into offer insurance for

216parents. And then we have a Microsoft licensing renewal. And that What was that again? The uh the directory? >> Yeah, active directory. >> Yeah. And I think the rest uh finance-wise Steve will cover in his section. And then one last thing uh the Alumni Association. Again, I'm going to throw out there that we have the fifth annual Alumni Association golf outing is on June 30th at Painesville Country Club. It'll be $100 and will include 18 holes uh 18-hole scramble with cart, a hot dog lunch, and I've been told the hot dogs are amazing. Uh and have and a mission bar barbecue dinner. After dinner, there will be awards and prizes. And you can save today uh by following their Facebook page or visiting their website. Uh another message they wanted to get out is they

217they don't get a lot of participation in uh people Scott applying for scholarships. Uh they they do award three one-time scholarships at a $1,500 each. Uh we've only had one applicant in each of the last two years and and quite frankly three $3,000 that they didn't pay out last year went to the softball um new scoreboard. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> And that's all I have. >> Just a note on that scholarship, what they're looking for is um students whose family also came from Riverside. So they're looking it's it's truly an alumni scholarship. So again, great opportunity and if you don't know how to fill out the application, you can reach right out to the guidance office. So >> Yeah, a parent a parent or grandparent had to attend Riverside to be eligible for

218that scholarship. >> I think that just begs the question we have a ton of scholarships out there on our site and that people should apply for them and you know, it's it the return on investment from applying for all those scholarships is better sometimes than getting a part-time job. So >> Just a point of note, the alumni golf I believe is June 20th. Did I what I say? >> I think you said June 30th. >> I thought 30th. >> It's a Tuesday. >> It's the 20th, yeah, sorry. >> So it's a Saturday the Saturday. >> yeah. >> It's a Saturday, yes. >> There was one more thing related to finance that I didn't see on there. We did get audit results for finance, right? >> Just wrapped up. >> Yeah, I didn't have a chance

219to I think we got an email on that last >> Last week probably last night I believe. >> Yeah. >> You didn't read it yet? >> No, I didn't. So maybe maybe Steve can touch on that. >> All right, anything else Trip? Perfect. Um so then that brings us to the treasurer's report. >> I do I I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to Melissa on that day of PD. It was incredibly well organized and I appreciate well organized organization done correctly and it was done to a T and and I do have to rat out Mike Patrizzi. He is the one who plugged a second light into his office and that's why the we lost power across the district. It's true. So, am I going the right way? >> Uh

220no other way. >> Uh well well, I'm going to talk about the community No, no, I'm not. >> to join the community choir. >> Yeah, you do not want that, I assure you. Um so, just a quick update on where we're we're at financially and and we're actually good news. We're actually a little bit ahead of our projections, not significantly, but it is helpful. Uh our our total cash balance is at 30.3 million and that general fund balance is 20.36 million, but there are some obviously some encumbrances against that about just a little over 4 million dollars. So, we're at 16 million unencumbered at this point. Our investments, you can see on the yield at 3.76. It's not at the height what we saw what uh probably a year ago we were pushing fives, somewhere

221in that range. Um so, they're starting to come down, uh but they're still still making some money. So, overall uh when I say our our financial position remains stable, it we all know where the levy eminent, but there's nothing additionally falling uh that we can see uh at this point. Uh so, again um all our revenue and other sources are 37.53 million and you can see, you know, where they go. And again, that's no no real surprise on on where they go. And this is where they they from. Again, no real surprise either that revenue is and if you if you if we were to go back you can see where revenue you can see uh well, the next slide will get it. I'm sorry. Our revenue collections we've this is about 66% of the

222way through what what we've estimated uh through the year and our property taxes again, no surprise to anyone here is the lion's share of our collections, the state and other revenue. We're talking about general fund here. This is the This is the slide I was referencing. The 37.16 and our expenditures, let's go back real quick. 37.53 is revenue. So, we are actually right now by the skin of our Renny 10 10 not in deficit spending, which is a good thing. We thought we would be at closer to a million dollars to the good until the 1.6 million, well, actually 800,000 came from the decision of the Lake County uh >> Homestead >> Yeah, it was a homestead and owner occupancy doubling those. They didn't have to do that. Salary and wages accounts for our biggest

223piece between that and employee benefits which again is uh pretty consistent with what you'll see year over year over year. Investments, this is just a breakdown of where they are. So, we're doing the very best we can to stretch those dollars and make them last a little bit longer. I did want to hit on recent transfers uh to make sure we all are on the same page. That 65,000 from general fund to the PI account is one positive thing that did come from the Briscoe report. Um I know that um uh Mrs. Grassy really enjoyed that um presentation from Mr. Briscoe. She was thoroughly impressed. But we did we did find as we were auditing where we had spent 65 million out of Uh million, I'm sorry. 65,000, thank you. That would be That would

224be significant, 65 million. 65,000 dollars just got caught up in a larger bundle of um curriculum material. And we know we just have to really do our due diligence to vet that out to make sure that we're not catching a consumable. And that was a consumable. And that's why why it occurred. So that's being corrected. And then the auditors did find um it was a We we had uh a million dollars coming in and 800,000 dollars coming in and they it should have gone um It was just an error in where they were placed between the PI and general fund. So we put too much money in the PI account. Should have been 800,000 in not a million. So we have to fix that which we I believe we've already done. Um I shouldn't say

225we. Mike did that. Thank you very much, Mr. Treazy. Uh and this occurred of course due to that that error. Just a human error. But it does not uh affect our audit. We still will have a clean audit. Clean audit doesn't sound phenomenal, but that's the best you can do is a clean audit. And I believe you guys received some documentation on that. So again uh we're in a little slightly better to the tune right now with pretty close to a million dollars more than what um I had forecasted and even forecasted in our update of uh J- when was our 5-year forecast? February, our February forecast, yes. >> So, I wasn't understanding what what was the million and you said >> So, two >> split out? >> Two two chunks of money came in,

226a million dollars and 800,000. >> From what? Where? >> Just the collect- just the collections, just the tax collections. And one of and and they were both deposited, if you will, but they got flipped in the accounts they should have gone to. So, this is just a correction of that. We didn't lose any money, it was just put in the wrong spot. And um the board could have chosen to transfer it, if they wanted to, but there wasn't any board documentation to justify that, so change of fund. >> It was a management letter pointed and it didn't affect anything else. They said it >> No, right. It was a letter. It was a letter, which I wish we didn't get the letter, but, you know, it was it was a mistake, but >> So, do

227we have any um idea if we're going to get the auditor state board again yet? Do they tell you that before or do they just wait a while? >> Well, we we Mike asked the question, called the state to see um if that was impacted, and I believe the answer is we think no. >> That's what they indicated was based on, you know, the one correction we had to make, that they didn't think that would be an issue, but they don't get to make that judgment. It goes down to the state level and then, but they >> I mean, they're auditing our books overall, total, all funds, so doesn't really >> Correct. >> There's no effect anyway. But, if anybody wants any light reading, I suggest you >> And just to let people know, it

228goes beyond just the financial. I mean, we had some technology pieces in there. There was a whole food service piece that was there. So, they go beyond just looking at the numbers. So. >> They They They audited us, for sure. So, that that concludes my report, Madam President. >> Thank you. >> All right, that brings us to public participation. Anyone wishing to address the Board of Education will be recognized by the Board President. Speakers are requested to speak from the podium. Which is our nice table over here. Identify themselves and their topics. Comments are limited to 3 minutes. Do we have any public comment tonight? No. All right. All good. All right. Um that brings us to consent agenda part of the um meeting. So, first up is finance audit. >> I'd like to make

229a motion to approve the items listed on the uh items A through G on the finance audit consent agenda as recommended by the treasurer. Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? I'm sorry, who was the second? I didn't catch it. >> Uh Brenda Grassi. >> No discussion? Steve, can you take the roll? >> Yes, sir. Mr. Aidino. >> Aye. >> Mrs. Grassi. >> Aye. >> Mrs. Krenensky. >> Aye. >> Ms. Brewster. >> Aye. >> Mr. Byers. >> Aye. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> That brings us to consent agenda for personnel. >> I'd like to make a motion to approve the items listed A through E and A and F as a separate item. >> just do A through E and F. >> Oh, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. A through E on

230the personnel consent agenda as recommended by the center. And I'd also like to make a motion to approve the uh approve item >> Just do one. >> One item. Just one item. >> Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Throw the curve ball. >> That's okay. >> Sadly, I think I'll have to approve the retirements. >> Any discussion? >> Yes, um hold on, let me put it in perspective. So, this is Dr. Malakar is on here, right? >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Dr. Malakar, were in 2010, were you here at the high school as an assistant principal before you went to Madison Avenue? >> I think that's the year I went to Madison. >> I think that was the year, yeah, when I think the first year I got elected, you were here,

231but then you moved. >> You were also teaching classes at the high school. >> I remember that. >> And when you walked in, I called you like a staff old staff old >> And I didn't know I had no clue you were like that she was the principal. It was really funny. I remember that. But, you we've been around together a long time together. It'll I'll be sad to see you go. Thank you for all your contributions. >> Dr. Malakar, would would you mind sharing your tenure with the school district? Remind us what your full title is. >> Kindergarten from kindergarten. >> So, yes, so I am a graduate. Um graduated in '89. Um raised my family here. All three of my children graduated from here also. Um 32 years in the district. I don't

232know anything else but Riverside. Um I was a teacher at LaMuth for 11 years. I was um the assistant principal at John R for 3 years. Principal at Madison Avenue for 2. Um assistant director of pupil services. Um two things that Jim Kaylis did for me. Shout out to Jim Kaylis um for my career. Uh would not let me become an administrator unless I did a run through the the high school as an assistant. I didn't want to be at the high school at all. So, best learning experience there for administration and he would not let me be the director of pupil services. He hired Cheryl instead and made me the second in command, which was wonderful, but it only lasted a year and then for 15 years I've been the director of curriculum. >>

233Did you >> And for 2 and 1/2 weeks I've been the assistant superintendent. Which true story, somebody asked me at Lakeland last week when we were there, "How long have you been the assistant superintendent?" And I literally had to verbally say, "A WEEK." NO ONE HAS EVER ASKED me how long I've been the director of curriculum, but it was >> A week. >> And I just want to give you credit for writing the grant that is the reason we're sitting here now for the CTX addition and your vision on that and what you've done for that program is amazing. So, thank you. >> I'm envious of our short time together, but everybody loves you and I can see why. >> I appreciate that. Apparently self-aware. >> I I I would like to just say Abby,

234ultimately she's taken us from a curriculum programming standpoint and continue to push through even the even the tough times to the things that we're sitting in today and what we have today and then the the valuable programming that we have for our students kind of moving forward is is phenomenal. It's an honor to call her a colleague, but even more as a friend and so hard to replace. >> You're the only person from that has been here >> POG >> has won >> Yeah, like the like right, I mean >> I don't know, I think it's me. >> You're the lone holdout yet, so >> So, I think they're trying to make you cry. Would you like me to move on? >> Yeah, no. I'm going to go for the next question. >> All right.

235>> Uh Steve, could you take the roll? Ms. Brewster? >> I. >> Mr. Ideno? >> I. >> Ms. Krenensky? >> I. >> Mr. Byers? >> I. >> Mrs. Grassy? >> I. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> Okay. >> Mr. Ideno. >> I would I like to make a motion to approve item F on the uh listed on the personal consent agenda as recommended by the superintendent. >> I'll second. >> Uh any discussion? >> Uh yes. Um I um you know, just in thinking about the um proposal of a 5-year contract, I I really had a hard time going 5 years given the financial situation uh that we're finding ourself in, but also the fact that, you know, even though a a solid foundation has been laid for improvement academically in our district, um we are hoping

236to see better test results. Um we certainly are seeing some gains in a lot of areas, but um you know, when you look at neighboring schools, um you know, we're we're lagging. And so, um I I have every confidence that Dr. Rothenberg will be able to bring those scores up with working with the staff, uh but I could only support a 3-year contract. >> Okay, any other discussion? Dr. Tonneson, could you take the roll? >> Yes, sir. >> Mrs. Grassy? >> I. >> Mr. Byers? >> I. >> Mr. Ideno? >> I. >> Ms. Brewster? >> Nay. >> Steve, was there a second for that? >> I did. >> Oh, yes. Yes, Mrs. Krenensky yes. And speaking of which, Mrs. Krenensky. >> Hi. >> Motion carries 4-1. >> Um that brings us to curriculum and programming

237consent agenda. >> Uh motion to approve the items listed A through B on the curriculum and programming consent agenda as recommended by the superintendent. Can I have a second, please? >> I'll second. >> Any discussion? Dr. Thompson. >> Mrs. Krenensky. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Grassy. >> Hi. >> Mr. Audino. >> Hi. >> Ms. Brewster. >> Hi. >> Mr. Vyers. >> Hi. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> Um that brings us to buildings and grounds and operations. >> I have the easiest one. We have nothing. So. Here you go. Thanks. And that brings us to um policy. >> Okay. Um I need a motion to approve uh item A, the adoption of the new and revised board policies um uh on the consent agenda as recommended by the superintendent. >> I'll second. >> All right. Any discussion?

238All right. Take the roll. >> Ms. Brewster. >> Hi. >> Mr. Vyers. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Krenensky. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Grassy. >> Hi. >> Mr. Audino. >> Hi. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> All right. That brings us to Board of Education business. First item is a motion to adopt the portrait of a Riverside board member as attached. May I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Um I think we had um our um attorney look it over and we're fine as far as, you know, legal responsibility as a board member. Okay. >> So, I just want to say I'm really excited about the fact that we're putting something out in a in a document that's similar to portrait of a Riverside Beaver and a Riverside graduate and that that

239tells the public what the board expects of themselves. And so, I think that was great work and I'm proud of that. I don't know about the rest, but >> I agree. Matter of fact, I wouldn't mind if maybe Dr. Ortman, I don't want to put you on the spot, but maybe share with the public a little bit more about this document and what the intent is. >> So, the intent really of this document is it's kind of a foundation of all our all of the evaluations that aren't dictated to us. And it's not this isn't a valuable document. Basically, all everything we have done since the business advisory created portrait of a Riverside Beaver document is to tie uh tie actions to it. So, we we've tried to operationalize as much as we can. So,

240we we've done it and presented actions and behaviors that you'd expect to see in our students. And then we we took that and converted it to our staff. So, the recent staff uh update or staff evaluation is tied directly to this. So, every character every characteristic kind of fits to that. Uh as we shifted towards looking at the board handbook, which is next, but then also Mr. Ardino had mentioned, "Hey, let's you know as he was part of developing the document when he was on the business advisory, let's let's push this for the board member and operationalize it for a board member and the next expectations for that." We took a look at all the characters or all the attributes that are there, the eight ones, and and spelled them out for that. I think

241the next step of it is to try to make it look similar to the actual portrait in some sort and post it to the Board of Education website so that it can be seen for everyone. It's a two-page document right now that is linked on it. It's something that we are I think the board did a great job at the retreat working through it, having like some discussions that I would agree. I think it's exciting kind of see this is what our this is what our board members and this is what it is cuz I think it is it is it is it's a thankless it's a it's it's thankless work that you guys do and it's not even January I'm talking high value which is board appreciation month but it it is thankless work

242and to really have that this is the reasons why we do is important. >> Yeah and you know, thank you for that and other school districts maybe not necessarily in Lake County in particular but there can be a mentality between the board and the school district that it's an us versus them and I do really think that this gives more of an example of we collectively and that the decisions made at this table really do have an immediate impact on everybody in the school district in the community and I certainly think it helps bridge that gap. So thank you for doing the work behind the scenes to make this come true. >> It was it was an honor and it does tie into find the one community cuz everyone is tied to this document. >>

243And for me from my perspective I am hopeful that future iterations of this board and people who decide to run for Board of Education will look at that document or will be given that document in advance so that they understand what the expectations of the community and the district are going forward so. >> And the document is available out there for anyone to take a look at so. >> We will get it on the we'll get it on the board page as it is and we'll try to update it so it matches the other document. >> Perfect. Thank you. Good to vote. >> Thank you. >> vote. >> Any other discussion? All right, can you call the roll please? >> Mrs. Mann Mr. Byers >> Aye. >> Mrs. Kuneski >> Aye. >> Mrs. Grassy >>

244Aye. >> Mr. Ideno >> Aye. >> Mrs. Brewster >> Aye. >> Motion carries five to zero. >> All right and that brings us to the second piece of Board of Education business which is an update to the Board of Education handbook. So there's a motion to approve the Riverside Local School District Board of Education handbook as attached. Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Or you can second. >> No, you good. >> Okay. I have >> Mrs. Grassy >> I have a discussion. >> Go ahead. >> Um again, um I had some questions. I didn't know. Dan, did you get to look at those or >> Yes. >> Everything's good? >> Yes. >> Okay. All right. And um I I um in particular um liked having more detail about the different committees because

245um description uh because you know, that changes over time, but it also um anybody coming onto a committee that's new, whether you're new to the board or just new to a committee, it's nice to have the detail there. >> I think we've had this the board the updates to the board handbook for over a year at this point. It's just nice to be able to finally get them approved. >> Yes. So. >> Great. Can you call the roll, please? >> Yes, ma'am. Mr. Idena >> Aye. >> Ms. Brewster >> Aye. >> Mrs. Grassy >> Aye. >> Mr. Byers >> Aye. >> And Ms. Granacki >> Aye. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> All right. And the last thing on our board business is vouchers for Ohio. So, resolution authorizing the Riverside Local School District's joinder of

246the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding. >> I will second. >> Any discussion? >> Uh yes. >> Um I know um we got some information from um Ms. Grassy at the last meeting and I provided some um as it relates to legislative things going on around the state. Um I just want to reiterate that um you know, in looking further into this, currently to serve um everyone's information, uh there were uh five counts in the the um lawsuit and um three of those were already ruled on, but they're being appealed from what I understand. And that's supposed to happen sometime in August from um the last information I heard. I also wanted to try to get a better understanding of why in Lake County only Wickliffe belongs to the this coalition and

247why doesn't Mentor, Willoughby, Eastlake, Madison, Painesville City, or Kirtland belong. And you know, I know that there were some comments shared at the last meeting about, you know, that within the population of our community, people have different feelings about this cuz this is a political issue. Um some people believe that vouchers should exist, some don't. What has really happened of late is that there's been problems with the amount of money going to certain entities and you know, be it private, parochial, charter, whatever. But you know, it currently is being challenged in the lawsuit. I know it's only $2 a kid to belong to this, but that's for 1 year and then you have to keep paying for it. And this could be tied up in the courts for some time, so it is an expenditure.

248Um but the one that really surprised me was um the impact of um you know, why, let's say, you know, one school district, I'm not going to name it, could have well approved this long ago. They had the votes to approve it. And they absolutely won't because they ran the numbers and they won or they basically prevailed on the passage of a levy by 200 votes. And that's exactly the number of kids who are using vouchers in their district. And even to this day, they don't want to touch this because they need every vote they can get to pass this issue. So, I I I just heard that from a very good source. Um none of us have a crystal ball how long this is going to take to but it is in the courts

249right now. Um one of the things that I've, you know, um struggled with is that um it it's um I I look at I hear stories, you know, like you're in the grocery store or you're at a school or you you hear from different people. Um you know, it doesn't seem like $8,000 is a lot, but then when you hear that how many kids in can't afford sixth grade camp. So, they can't go. So, if this is already in the courts and I feel that this is going to be righted through the courts and I know part of it is funding that fight, but you know, I would rather see the money spent on kids being able to go to sixth grade camp. >> I think if we got more money from the state, we

250might be able to pay for sixth graders to go to camp. Um I think there's there's that there's that thought. I don't think anybody I'm only going to speak for myself, not for anybody else at the table right now. There's there's no thought that there is something wrong with vouchers. I I don't even I don't personally even have a anything wrong with vouchers. I have a problem with the methodology and the amount of money that is being given to vouchers and the eligibility for people who are getting vouchers in the voucher expansion program specifically, not the other four vouchers. Though those are there for specific purposes and those shouldn't be taken away. Um I think the the lawsuit says things, but at the end of the day, it's about the funding mechanism and the fact

251that we can't get our our share and again, like we shared at the last meeting that if we got the same amount of money as the average student in Lake County is getting, we'd be getting over $20 million from from the state and we get eight. So, I think there's some inequity there. Um and I believe that that's worth fighting for. That's my personal opinion, again. >> Uh I completely agree that the voucher equity is ridiculously unbalanced and not in our favor. Um so, with Ms. Grassie, I'm in complete agreement there. Voucher equity is necessary and an overdue conversation in Ohio. Um the students and teachers at Riverside and other public schools are being penalized significantly as a result of it. However, I do have some hesitations not to $8,000, not to fighting this fight.

252Uh but my hesitation is specific to the coalition that's behind the lawsuit and I'm going to share with you why I have those hesitations. My largest concern is transparency. Based on their membership model, they have likely collected several millions of dollars since 2020, yet there's no publicly available accounting of how those funds have been allocated, spent, reserved. There's no P&L statement, which even a nonprofit would have a P&L statement, no annual report, no breakdown of legal expenditures, no clarity on how long funding will be needed. Uh the coalition is not new. It's been around since 1991, at least according to their website. Um but the most alarming thing was that membership is not specific or limited to this current voucher lawsuit. In fact, the list of over 300 member districts in their material, if you

253read the fine print, mentions that these are members that have been a member at some time of 1 year or more. These are not a list of current members. But the way it's worded vaguely on the homepage makes it sound like these are the current that there's this large coalition behind this fight. So, there's no transparency whether there's one school a part of this coalition or 300. Um, that that bothers me that there's no transparency there. Um, the third is the coalition's mission does appear to be broader than the lawsuit. Uh, I'll give you a couple quotes right off of their website. The website states, quote, "Currently membership is supporting the EdChoice voucher litigation." So, the word currently suggests to me that membership dues may support other initiatives past, present, or future. They also highlight

254that membership has supported other litigations in the past. And I do have a concern about the coalition's overall messaging in a press release specific to this lawsuit. Specific to this lawsuit, they state in part, quote, "Vouchers also create a system of state-funded discrimination. Private schools regularly practice discrimination and reject students for a wide range of reasons." Unquote. "Regularly practices discrimination" I have a problem with because according to whom and defined how? And unfortunately, they don't provide those examples. Our community in particular has students who go to NDCL, St. Gabriel's, Lake Catholic, Our Shepherd Lutheran, Montessori programs, and I believe they would take issue with that characterization. I'm not here to advocate for private schools, but I am here to point out that this coalition's rhetoric does appear to extend beyond the issue of funding equity

255specific to um, vouchers. So, to be clear, I don't see joining this coalition as a win. I don't see not joining as a loss. Uh, I'm fully committed to fighting for equitable funding for our students. I simply believe we can do so partnering with someone who demonstrates a little more transparency. Uh, again, I do understand the value behind this and I'm for voucher equity, but this in particular raises some concerns for me. >> So, can I ask a question? Can Have we Has anybody reached out to them for that documentation? Cuz I'd love to have it, too. >> Yeah. No, I I I Their website appears to be thorough until you start opening up documents, and they're very repetitive. Um I didn't see anywhere for me to send them an email, but I'm certainly happy

256to do that if we wanted to move this to a different conversation. >> Do we want to table this to see if we can get something? >> I'm I'm like I'm fully supporting the information that you're bringing here. Like I'm I'm Right. I don't want to be throwing my money away at somebody who's not going to use it as as intended. I would like to know what they do with their money, also, right? Um Can we Like I think I I think Well, I would think that if they're an organization, they should have something. >> Yeah, I mean, they they >> their expenditures. They got to do a tax return. It's not like they they they can't They've got to report. >> Yeah, and when they're gathering money publicly, it should be publicly available. A

257P&L statement would be helpful, or whatever version they want to call, but I would also like a list of who truly are coalition members, because again, it's it's kind of deceptive the way that they advertise it and they market it. Um and even with that, I will say that the last quote I read, I would have I I just feel that their broader agenda is more encompassing than just voucher equity. I would say it's pretty anti-voucher. Again, I'm not here to advocate for that, but I just want to make sure that even if they answered those questions, my concern would be Not that I'm saying it would be a no vote a month from now, um would be what their broader coalition stands for outside of just voucher equity. >> So, are we looking to

258make a motion to postpone to the April business meeting? >> I can make that motion, then yes, I will. >> Can I Robert's rules question, I said no, we didn't get the training tonight. We haven't. It's a motion to table. >> No, to postpone. >> I had my I had a cheat sheet. I still wanted to respond to that. Thank you, Joe, for getting that information. Um one of the things I left out is that um we're a member of uh NEO. Um it which is like the SC. Um and um you're I'm Northeast Ohio, and they are a member. And we pay how much a year to belong to NEO? >> pay, we funnel our flow-through funds through that. >> Okay. So, you know, in a way, they're kind of we're part of their

259group. So, they're kind of representing us to a degree. Um yeah, I keep hearing the number 312 as the number of members. Everything I read goes back to that. I guess when it comes right down to it, we are using taxpayer money, and it is taking uh political positions. So, that's the only thing I'm concerned about. I I don't want it to cause people to vote a different way. >> Can I Can I ask the members to email me questions to by the end of the weekend specifically, and then maybe >> have that guy's email address, correct? >> The >> It's on the back of this, right? >> I I do. I uh I was hoping Mr. McIntyre and I could put something together to the kind of formally put a request in, but if

260we have questions through through the weekend, I will put them all into a document and sit down with Dan and send it off to them, and hopefully we'll respond. >> Thank you. >> So much plan. >> That'd be helpful. So, we have a motion to postpone this to our April business meeting. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Any further discussion? All right, can you call the roll, please? >> Yes, ma'am. Can Who seconded to get please? >> Mrs. Brewster. >> I Sorry. >> You did? Okay. Okay. >> That we're postponing it. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um Mrs. Kernensky. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Grassy. >> Hi. >> Mr. Addino. >> Hi. >> Mr. Brewster. Mrs. Sorry. Sorry. Mrs. Brewster. I'm sorry. >> Hi. >> I was already thinking ahead because the

261name wasn't on there and I'm like, who's not on there? It's Mr. Byers. Who's on the next page? Mr. Byers. >> Hi. >> Moshe Carries. Hi. >> Great. That brings us to a Board of Education update. Okay. I attended the senior dinner tonight. I missed the play cuz we had meetings, but see what I can do over the weekend. But I wanted to thank Nick. I heard some people talking about the half sheet where it says we are Riverside and it's looking to expand our contact reach. And if you're interested in receiving updates or engagement opportunities from the Riverside Local School District, please fill this out below. It's your name and email. And would you like emailed updates and engagement opportunities? Yes or no. So, the outreach is important because I hear so many positive

262comments there. I I Even if I go to the ladies room, they're raving about the bathroom still. And we did that what, 2 years ago? Yeah. And the one woman said, "Oh, I went I was a student here. When did they do this?" I said, "2 years ago." But it was a long overdue and they really appreciate it. So, it's just neat to hear the conversation. They are so complimentary of the students serving them and the food was great. It was a room full of people, which was wonderful. We'll just have to acclimate them to how to get in here easier cuz I know there was one gentleman at the table that Um, didn't want to walk all the way down the hall again to go to the men's room. It's quite a distance for

263some of them. Uh, so we'll we'll get that done. And then, um, what was the other thing? Um, let's see. Um, the I I did check just briefly, um, with uh, Miss Rit about the playground uh, preschool playground equipment just being in this, um, you know, work area. Um, you know, if we could check because I know that, um, did they already put in the equipment or is it slated to go in the spring? I don't know. >> Yeah, Riverview >> have one in cuz we didn't build anything. I don't know if they put anything in at all. We won't have kids there till August. >> Yeah, but they're coming in August, so are we planning on doing something over the summer? >> yes, I over the summer, I don't know. I talked to the

264construction a couple of times. >> Okay. Cuz those little guys, three to five, yeah, they need that right size playground. So, but it's not to say that this program can build what they're going to build, but we have some things on order. >> Yeah, they have equipment coming to ours which is kindergarten. >> So, but thank you for following up on that. And, um, and then I didn't know if down the road, do we want to extend that to Buckeye because they're basically going to rip everything out, too. They don't have preschool, but they do have little guys. So, there could be, you know, some adjustments, but >> I think we discussed like I think they can do multiple we can do multiple pieces of equipment, you know, once they budget this one, but they

265should be able to do multiple pieces if we find them to be >> Well, it's not going to Those preschool playground is separate from the Riverview playground, correct? It is. Okay, so you're talking about now wanting to build playground equipment for all of the elementaries. >> No, I'm talking about you know, Buckeye's going to lose a lot of their equipment because we can't save it, um, especially if it ends up >> Yeah, we're going to put some new in, but do are there some primary pieces that they might want to down the road a year from now want to maybe consider especially if they >> why we want to do that at Riverview Parkside so they all have access >> Possibly if it's needed. >> and so we have not had those discussions but I'm

266sure somebody would love to have those conversations with you. >> Yeah. The biggest thing is that Buckeye's basically going to lose a lot of their stuff. So because we can't save it. Yeah, it will be replaced. >> Yeah, it'll be it'll be a part of the project. >> Yeah, okay, great. Wonderful. Thank you. >> I just like to share that Dr. Rotino and I had the opportunity to go to a Boy Scout meeting Tuesday. Um And it was it was great. They invited us there to talk about the democratic process. And we did that um but I did want to share that after it was over a parent came up and had the most wonderful things to say about Riverview staff where her son goes to school and that she's never had like she's she's

267never had a more wonderful experience. She was thrilled and and can't wait to send her daughter. So I just wanted to pass that along. It was great to hear that cuz she said well I know you're always hearing bad things so I'm just here to tell you something good. So that was great. All right, any other Board of Education business updates I mean? All right. Um next meeting announcements we have a policy committee meeting April 14th at 7:00 a.m. Curriculum and Programming Committee meeting April 15th at 7:30 a.m. Um Finance and Personnel Committee meeting April 16th at 7:00 a.m. Buildings and Grounds Committee meeting April 21st at 7:30 and Board of Education meeting April 23rd at 6:00 p.m. a working session on >> March 26th at 4:30. Um that makes us ready to adjourn to

268executive session. So, the Riverside Local School District Board of Education hereby recesses into an executive session for the purposes of considering the appointment, employment, discipline, and compensation of public employees under revised code 121.22G1 and conferring with an attorney for public body concerning disputes involving the public body that are subject of pending or imminent court action under revised code 121.22G3. And upon conclusion of this executive session, the board president shall gavel the board back into open session at this location. All matters discussed in these executive sessions are designated to the public officials and employees as confidential pursuant to revised code 102.03B because of the status of the proceedings and or circumstances under which the information will be received and preserving its confidentiality is necessary to the proper conduct of government business. Can I get a second?

269>> I'll second. >> Thank you. And can you please call the roll? >> Miss Miss Brewster >> Hi. >> Mr. Idena >> Hi. >> Mr. Byers >> Hi. >> Mrs. Grassi >> Hi. >> Mrs. Grananski >> Hi. >> Motion carries 5-0. >> All right.