October 23, 2025 Board of Education Meeting

001Call the meeting to order at 6 o'clock. Steve, can you take the role, please? >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Fishell >> here. >> Mr. Keaney >> here. >> Miss Brewster >> here. >> Mrs. Grassy >> here. >> Mrs. Kredenski >> here. >> Five present. Zero absent. >> Stand for a pledge, please. [Music] 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. Hey, welcome everyone. On behalf of the board, I would like to welcome all students, staff, parents, and interested community members to tonight's board of education meeting. I would 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

002business 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. Approval of minutes. Make a motion to approve the minutes as attached. September 25th, 2025 board minutes and October 16th, 2025 special meeting minutes. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? You call the role, please. Miss Brewster >> I >> Mr. Keaney >> I >> Mrs. Grassy >> I >> Mrs. Kreninski >> I >> Mr. Fishell >> I >> motion carries 50 >> special report >> okay thank you we have two tonight first off first of all we um Dr. Dr. Michael Zern Lake County Treasurer is here to discuss property taxes and some of the things that are going on. So, I'm going

003to turn it over to him. >> The down button. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> All right. Well, uh first of all, I'd like to thank um the school board uh school board president Scott Fishell and the superintendent uh Chris Ratino uh for allowing me to speak to everybody today regarding uh property taxes. Um it is a big concern. It's been in the news uh quite a bit over the last year and um there's a lot of legislation that has been proposed throughout the state um that I feel is not showing the whole picture of the property tax issue and I am out here to start um making presentations to show the whole picture, the whole scope of what could happen with property tax reform. Um I believe property taxes are too high. Um

004but I do not believe the whole picture is being explained when they are proposing legislation to reduce or replace property taxes. So uh that is that is the uh uh presentation tonight. So um so we're going to talk about uh the concerns of um uh property tax reform and uh I really want to look at the revenue sources for property taxes. Um, I want to talk about the risks and the services at risk if property taxes are reduced or replaced. Uh, what could be what could be at risk? Schools are one of them on the list, but um there's many others that I I want to mention. And um also, uh potential implications of if something is eliminated or something is reduced, how that how that could have a a long-term impact on future costs

005or people's lives uh in the in the future. So, um, when, uh, there's a few things I want to point out. So, the in 2025, property taxes, um, are just under $24 billion in the state of Ohio if you add them all up. Now, that's usually, uh, used locally. Um, so some of the things that could happen are services that could be cut, and I want to go into some of them because I think some of them are very important to talk about. and the legislation proposed at the state level. They talk about reducing taxes, which everyone loves that. That sounds great. Their taxes are going to be reduced, but they don't talk about the implications. They don't talk about how the budget's going to be adjusted or where that revenue is going to come

006from next year when they do the budget. Um there's also uh a couple other things that are um very concerning such as first responders. Uh one of the biggest things for me with property taxes is police and fire. That is number one. Um that's got to be there. And if that is uh if if staff is reduced, uh that is a big concern to me for police, fire, EMS. Um there's a lot of other issues I'm just going to mention as I go through this. Um but I I'm going to move on at this point. And um just to give a a really brief overview on your property taxes when you get your tax bill, your taxes are in the middle of where the uh revenue goes. and it's going to break down everything from

007Lake County to the schools to police fire to libraries to each levy. Um but in general in Ohio about 60% of property taxes go to the schools and 40% goes to everything else. Now there's a couple reasons um a couple things that have happened over the last 30 to 40 years that have changed the percentage that schools get. Um if you look over the last 30 years, uh the state of Ohio has been contributing less to the schools. Um you could see a decrease from probably um probably about 50/50 if you go back uh if you go back about 30 years to now they're paying uh less than 40% to the schools for their funding. So that is that is one of the reasons schools are probably asking for more property taxes. Um the other

008thing that is uh really apparent with schools is uh there is a a much greater uh cost to technology. Um if you go back 30 when I went to school um we did not have computers. Uh I would think every child has a computer. Uh that that's a lot more costly. And also safety safety was not a big concern when I went to when I went to school and now I know you have police in almost every school. Um that is an expense that that is a newer expense that wasn't there years ago. All right. So, um when they are proposing legislation, they're talking about reducing uh taxes. Uh they are kind of zoned in on the school taxes right now. Um if they reduce taxes, there's no money in the state budget to replace

009it. That that's either got to be replaced by different revenue sources or cut. Um, but I think when they're proposing legislation, they are not they're not talking about that specifically. They're just talking about reducing people's property taxes. There's no answer on the other end. So, that's part of the reason I'm I'm out here. All right. So, some of the uh some of the I kind of researched what would be affected with uh property taxes being reduced and some of the main things are uh public safety, police, fire, EMS. Uh jobs could be lost there. That's really concerning. Um that could be lives at risk. Uh education funding. Um so, we kind of went over that. Infrastructure, roads, bridges. I um I researched one thing that was really interesting on um what taxes pay for on

010roads, bridges in Lake County. And uh one thing I found interesting is we have anywhere from two to 3,000 lights on our freeways and that's paid for by property taxes. But I'm getting a little bit older and those lights need to be on. Um I cannot drive down a road at 12:00 at night without the without those lights on. So, um there's a lot of little things we don't even think about that are paid through by property taxes that we take for granted that need to be there. Um another one is um mental health. Uh the Adams board that is so vital to get people to give them a second chance to get back on their feet and uh senior services. I really research that. Um I deal a lot with Council on Aging. They

011do a great job. Meals on Wheels. Uh they deliver 500 meals per day for seniors. Um they have a lot of inhome uh health services and uh they also provide transportation transportation to their their uh seniors to their doctors to Walmart to their shopping that really enables them to live in their in their home. And if you eliminated those services I think the cost in the long run would be far greater because you would they would have to go to assisted living and assisted living is extremely expensive. um it's far better to let them live in their house and they should be able to live in their house. They they they've probably owned that for many years. All right. So, some of the um proposals out of the out of the state that I've heard

012are if property taxes are reduced or eliminated. Uh one thing that they are talking about is merging cities and schools and libraries together. So, one proposal that I heard was they would make each county a school district. So, that that I think would be uh would be shocking because there are 235,000 student or 235,000 people just in Lake County. Um but some of the the counties are even bigger. So, to make them one school district would be very very complicated, very hard. I don't I don't know how that would work, but that is something that they are they have uh proposed. um and the um some of the other issues with the uh smaller cities and the uh and the um villages and townships being merged together. So, um with the uh elimination of property

013taxes, um they're talking about uh fewer safety forces. Um once again, that's a big concern for me and delayed response. Um, we talked about uh the impact for seniors. I think this is a real concern. This is a one that I uh dealing with council on aging. I think this is a a real concern for the community. And and the other thing that uh that I've researched is uh one other potential target would be libraries. And uh libraries do serve a very valuable purpose. Um, a lot of times, uh, they offer children services so they can, uh, you know, they could study, they can get ahead. They provide things for children. They also help jobs with, uh, help adults with job resources. Um, and, uh, I think those are that's pretty vital. Um, so these

014are some of the things that they, uh, have talked about for replacing taxes. So, the first one is um, sales tax. Um they said that that would need to go to 18 to 20%. Uh if you eliminated $ 24 billion in property taxes, the sales tax would need to go to that percentage to uh recoup uh the lost property taxes. Taxing food, uh payroll, um they talked about a luxury tax, a sin tax. Um that uh they talked about gambling, marijuana tax, raising those. Um they talked about user fees. I've got one slide on user fees that I'd like to like to show on what they're what what has been proposed on that. And then um the other thing that was really uh really interesting was um I talked to a group of college students

015and I talked to a group of seniors and I asked them their ideas on what would you do to reduce property taxes and they both came up with the same idea and that was a residence tax. Now, these are 19-year-old college students and these are 65 to 80 year old seniors and they both had the same idea that everyone should pay into the system. Everyone should should have skin in the game. Um, so they were both pretty much 100% on board with a resident tax to reduce property tax. I just thought it was interesting. I'm just letting you know that the information that I found. Um so some of the uh pay perost services if uh property taxes are reg are reduced greatly. Um cost to have police reports done. Um EMS fire bills. Uh

016roll tolls such as 91. I mean they could be right here in Lake County. There could be tolls on the road. Um schools. Um I know you guys have some I have students in Riverside. You guys have some minimal fees but they could be much greater. uh if uh property taxes are reduced and membership fees for libraries. So um what I did is I created a um I created a survey uh that uh I created on survey monkey and I paid for um 15,000 responses. So I've already let the state legislators know about this. Um I've got about six or 700 responses so far. And my whole pitch to the uh when I talk to the legislators is there's 132 representatives and senators in Ohio and there's 11 12 million citizens in Ohio. So listen

017to the citizens, find out what they want, find out how they want to resolve this problem. And um and so the uh the survey and I printed out a whole bunch of them. Um, you could take it online or you could you could email it to me, but it pretty much asks um what what you would consider for replacing property taxes or reducing property taxes. It lists a whole bunch of ideas on what you could do to reduce property taxes. It also asks what services matter the most to you and um there's seven questions. The last question is the most interesting and that is fill in the blank. what's your out of the box idea to solve this problem to um make it fair more fair for everybody? And uh I've had some people that

018have responded from Alaska um and a couple other other countries and they have some fantastic ideas on ways to uh reduce property taxes and bring in other revenues. But uh the goal is 15,000 responses and then I am going to uh send it to the newspapers, give it to the state legislators and hopefully they'll go off of Ohio residents ideas um instead of just uh using their own ideas which I do not believe show the whole picture of the problem and and how to resolve it. Uh, so with that, I'm going to uh hand these to uh to Scott Fishell, and I appreciate everybody uh taking the time. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Do you want to take any questions from the board or >> Sure. >> Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Any discussion from I

019do have one and it kind of deals with >> funding of schools obviously we comes from property taxes but with the money that Ohio spends for vouchers is that from property taxes as well and would that system be hit as well or would it just be the public schools? >> I do not know the answer to that. >> Okay. >> Yeah. I don't know if that's out of the general fund or what fund that's specifically out of but I'd have to research it. Okay. Uh second tonight I have our transportation director, Mr. Andre for a kind of update on the transportation department and some good news coming out of that department. Yeah, good news is great, right? >> Thank you. >> All right, I'll come over on this side. Give your necks a break from

020um I'll try and be short and sweet. Um biggest thing with transportation right now um in our district, neighboring districts across the street, across the nation, um is staffing. Obviously, um people come in, people go out. It's difficult to uh recruit, train, uh retain staff in school transportation right now. Uh the good news is that our staffing here at Riverside is improving. Um at the beginning of the school year, we had many um staff members that were unexpected unexpectedly on a long-term leave um via medical or personal. Um majority of that staff has returned to work at this point. Uh we also have one new contracted bus driver who started uh last week. She finished up her training, passed her test. So we are very grateful and very excited to have her on board. Uh

021which leaves us right now with just one open um operator contract. So, we are in a good position as far as our routes being filled. Um, we also have hired three substitute transportation assistants in the last month uh to kind of help with some of those aid positions. Um, that being said, we are hiring. We are always hiring. Um, we will never not look at an application, turn away in any sort of um situation. Um, we can always use uh substitute bus operators, greatly use substitute bus operators. Um, right now our sub team is really made of myself, uh, my secretary Shirley, and, um, our facilities coordinator, uh, Val. We do a lot of the heavy lifting as far as, um, subbing goes. Um, so please reach out to myself, reach out to Mrs. Aliff

022if you, um, are interested or know of anybody interested in working in transportation. Uh we're also currently working um to explore the opportunity to hold uh different hiring events, uh recruitment events, um you know, networking with other transportation supervisors and seeing what works for them. Um also working with our uh team, our drivers, um how do we get people in the door? You know, we've tried different things over the years. We continue to try new things. Um I think our most recent discussion was um you know looking at doing one of those drive the bus events that you see neighboring districts do um and seeing if we can have success uh there. In addition to staffing, then uh big thing right now in the state of Ohio specifically um recently um DEW released um the

023opportunity uh for grant dollars for safety updates to school transportation. Uh specifically, there are $10 million in funds that are available to public school districts in Ohio. Um these funds can be used on your existing fleet or toward the purchase of new buses. Um it is very specific on what we can use these funds for. Um right now we're looking at what on our fleet we can include, what we can um add to our buses to improve uh safety features. There was a study that came out or um I guess a consensus that came out from DEW about a year year and a half ago with safety features that potentially can and should be included on school buses in Ohio. Um this is when if you saw there was a lot in the news about

024a year and a half ago about should seat belts be on buses. Um this came out of that study and um those conversations with local school districts and officials. Um, generally what we are looking at if we were to be awarded funds, um, would be things like all LED lights on our school buses. Do we want to include seat belts? Do we want to, um, look at adding, um, lane departure warning systems? Do we want to look at electronic stability control? Um, fully illuminated stop signs, um, adding a second stop sign to school buses, things like that, um, is what these funds are for. Um, so I've been digging into that. I actually have been that grant period just opened up last week. It's open through November 15th. So Dr. Ratino and I have been

025talking about um you know looking at what we could utilize on our fleet um to get a um submission in for that grant to get some funds in. Um we have until um or grant funds would be awarded um in December or January. they'd be available in the summer of 2026 and they have to be committed to a project prior to uh 2027. So, we have to be very specific in what we would use our funds that were awarded to us for. Um, a lot of it is also based on the age of your fleet. um you're less likely to be awarded dollars if you have an aging fleet where that equipment would be installed and then removed or retired a number of years later. Um so we're looking at all these options. We have

026until um mid to late November to get a submission in for the grant um to hopefully improve the safety of our students, our drivers, and the community at large as it relates to our school buses. So yeah, that's what I've got going on in the transportation world right now. >> Um, do all of the buses have cameras? >> Yes. All of our buses, >> actually currently, yes, all of our buses have two exterior cameras. >> Um, those are our stop arm cameras and then four to five interior cameras. Some of our newer buses, we started ordering them with a uh forward facing dash cam as well. >> Okay, sounds good. And then um I would expect that we're pretty competitive with area districts as far as salary. >> We are uh very competitive with area

027districts if not um greater pay than some of our area districts. >> Okay. >> And and I have seen and had some preliminary discussion about it um where um for example, Menor was looking at Lake TR trying to help but then there's always a cost to that. Yeah. And they're closer to where they are. >> Absolutely. And there's only so much I mean when you look at regulations of um transporting public school students, there's only so much that we would be able to use something like a lake tran or a contracted service for um you know, you can't lake can't pick students up from designated bus stops. They can't pick them up off the side of the road. They can't pick them up um at their homes unless they have like a dialeride van pulling

028into their driveway, that sort of thing. Um, so all of those options are there. I hope we don't ever have to get that creative. >> Okay. Thank you. >> You're welcome. >> Fantastic. Anyone else? All right. Thank you. Thank you. >> Oh, one more thing, too. I totally on my way here realize I forgot to include this in there. Um, I would be absolutely remiss to um if I didn't say and send a huge shout out and thank you to my um team in transportation over the last month. Um I was out of the office for the end of September and early October. Um and my team held down the fort specifically, you know, my secretaries, mechanics, all my drivers and aids. Um, so we have a really, really great team of people here at

029Riverside that are always willing to go above and beyond and help out when necessary. Um, so I appreciate them and I thank them for everything that they did in my absence. >> While you were out, uh, I was out because of the birth of my son. He was born in in September. So took some time off with family, but happy to be back. 4:00 a.m. comes a lot earlier. Uh, We got a new he sure does. Well, thank you. >> Thank you. >> And that concludes my reports for me. >> Thank you. >> Uh old business. I have one item of old business and that is we hired a company, the board hired a company called LLB Resources to communicate with all of the taxpayers in the district. Currently um we communicate with about 5,000

030uh different people and um there are about 29,000 to be communicated with. So that that uh project is continuing and the update on that is that LLB is now reaching approximately 10,000 of the 29,000. So, as that continues to grow and that fills out and we reach that 29,000, they were hired to be fired and then uh that will be moved to uh inside where our communications director Nick uh would be handling that from that point forward. So, that that continues to grow and I know that there can be some inconveniences with that. you get maybe double emails, you might get doubled up information. And the reason for that is you have to keep sending out emails in order to grow the numbers that that you're permitted to uh communicate with. Otherwise, Google will spam

031you. So, it takes quite a while to build the program. So, that's an old business update. >> I also will follow up with old business on LLB. So, I think we as a board need to discuss what the plan is with them because we're spending about $250 per hour for emails that are one to two lines that are just copies of what our district communications director sends out and does a very good job doing it. So, I went through my emails after looking at the last invoice. So, today we paid 13,600 and I forwarded all this to you guys last week because I felt it was fair to make sure the board knew what we were going to discuss. Um the idea was they created Monday through Saturday email campaigns based on August updates and

032general news. Um they reviewed emails for accuracy with the schoolboard president. Um entered and formatted email into the schoolboard.news domain and monitor deliver deliverability and engagement. Um I went through my personal I get them on three different emails. I get them on my school district email. I get them on my family email and I get them on my personal email. So I am getting them in three. I went through each of those. I was only able to find 16 emails for the last month for the 30 it was a $4,000 bill which comes out to be approximately $250 per email. The emails have accuracy issues. Um they're not well formatted. There are grammatical errors in them. So the quality is not even that well. So I think as a board we do have the opportunity

033to use our district's um communications director to send these out. Probably could do a much better job and continue to grow the program without using LLB. So, I think we just need to discuss that based on the cost. Um, it doesn't seem like a fiscally responsible thing that we should be doing as a board at this time. >> Is anybody else at the table getting them at their home emails if you live I mean in district? I do not I only get them three times a day, sometimes four times a day in my district email. I do not get those on my personal emails on none of them. None of my family does. So, >> I'm just curious. >> Anyone at this table getting them at their home addresses? Is are are your email addresses

034included in this list? Mine is not. Nobody in my family's is. >> I don't have a home email. So, >> so again, I would ask the board to have a discussion on the cost of this based on where we are. I mean, we're going into deficit spending in um the next school year. I think again, this money could be used more. we can use it other places. At $250 per hour, it just does not seem like the right thing to do at this time. >> Well, I I would think if the goal is 29,000 emails or contacts and um at this point um we're around 13,000. Did you say 10,000? No, I mean dollar-wise. >> So $13,000 for 10,000 contacts. It's $130 per contact. If we get the 29,000 for 29,000, I think a dollar

035per contact is probably very reasonable in the marketplace to obtain these addresses and make these connections. >> At $250 per hour for a twoline, not accurate, not well-crafted email, it's worth it because it's the brand of our school. I mean, uh, Mr. Fairbine in the district has worked very hard to put a put a communication plan in place and it's good branding for our district and again I think he can carry this out for us if we give him direction on what we're looking for but we've never given him the chance and and again at $250 per hour. Mr. Hermanite doesn't get paid that he does much better work. The quality of his work is much better. So again why do we need to pay an outdoor outside company to continue this work when we

036have somebody internal that can do it for us and we can save the district $250 per hour. Well, the point of this was to uh communicate with all taxpayers and 5,000 of the 29,000 is a fraction of who we should be communicating with. If you're taking their tax dollars, they should know what's happening in the school district. And I have had feedback from many people, especially seniors who had never been communicated with before. they don't have that connection with the school district and yet they are enjoying getting information finally about the district and I think that can lead to more support for our district overall and I think we need to reach all taxpayers and I'm not disagreeing with that but again $250 per hour we have a communication director in the district that does

037a very good job why aren't we utilizing our director to go and figure out how we do this the school does not have $250 an hour to pay an outdoor outside company at this point. We're going into deficit spending in fiscal year 27. Actually, that's one of the messages. We had a message that went out with inaccuracy saying our treasur said that we're in a very good place. And I talked to m um Dr. Thompson to ask him. I don't think your message was that we are in a very good place or whatever that message said. It's that we're doing better than most districts in Ohio. Is that correct, Mr. Thompson? >> Correct. What I said was from a fiscal position, we're in a much better place than most school districts in the state of

038Ohio, but certainly um we are levy eminent. That is true, >> right? And the message that went out did not say that. It put everybody in a place that thought this was in a really, really good place. And we're not. We we do have challenges and spending $250 an hour at this point is not fiscally responsible. Well, let me just add that um if we are levy eminent and the time comes when we need to explore that further, having contact with as many taxpayers in the district as possible to convey any message that we want to convey. I think that would be very important. >> And again, I'm not disagreeing with that. I guess you're missing the message. We do not need to pay somebody $250 an hour to create simple emails that have that

039are not accurate, that are not transparent. And we don't need to pay somebody $250 an hour to do that. We have an internal director of communications that can do that for us. >> If that was our goal, I would much rather pay pay someone for an email list and buy an email list than I would to be having them produce emails that we could produce internally. that I feel we can do ourselves. Um, do we have do we have any documentation on the plan this person was supposed to create to show when that like do we have a list of emails so far that have been called? Do we have any idea when we will get the rest of them? How long this is supposed to take? How long are we supposed to be paying

040for this? and when will these emails stop and when will that job transition back to our in-house? Do we have any information on what that is as a plan or is this just going to continue? >> So, as I stated earlier, they were hired to be fired and when the time comes when all 29,000 people are as close as possible because you're never going to reach everybody, um then it will be brought inside. So part of the issue when you go to create a program like this um you don't just flip a switch and go. You have to create a whole platform. This thing has to be created. Uh it's not just a matter of buying emails and mailing out to those emails. Google does not permit you to do that. You will be spammed.

041So it it's a long process and it's a building process. And anyone that's ever built something or had has a business that you have to create a platform, you understand what it takes, the time and effort and sometimes money that it takes to go ahead and build that so you can execute your program. So anyway, this isn't just a simple thing that can just be turned over. It it's in process and it needs to run to its completion, which hopefully within the next half a year or so will be completed. And then at that point in time, uh, we'll look to bring that inside and do what it takes to transfer that. >> So, Dr. Thompson, should we be doing a blanket purchase order for this individual? Should we be putting that in our budget?

042Should we be having some sort of discussion on how much we're willing to spend on that? Because I don't think that we have that and we're spending it. And then we get a bill. And then you have to do um a then and now certificate because we don't have a bill. Our retainer was $9,000. We're through the retainer. Uh our last billing cycle put us over the retainer. Uh and uh it was a roughly quote me here, but roughly 34 $3,500 bill of which um I created a $4,000 blanket and put that out. So, the idea is that um I won't encumber any more money than we need to encumber, but yet not have to do a then and now. >> But we're basically encumbering indefinitely because we don't have any idea what this is

043going to cost us at the end. Correct. >> I'll have to continue to make blankets until we no longer employ them. Thank you. Or >> I shouldn't say employ them, contract with them. Anything else for old business? >> Um, yes. I think I sent an email previously asking um if I could get some information from our administration on um just some additional information on what the additional spaces at Riverview are going to who's going to be in those classrooms and how that is directly impacting or alleviating any or all any and all deemed overcrowding issues at Riverview. um and how we might have maybe done some of this through other means other than construction. I'm I'm curious what who's going in those classrooms. So, yeah, I can address that to start with that. Um immediately

044when the building and space is turned over to us, our plan is to move the three classes that are in alternate spaces. So, the first grade section, the second the section of second grade, and the section of fourth grade into three of those classrooms. Uh the plan first grade and a fourth grade. >> First grade, second grade and fourth grade are currently in um alternate spaces for them. That'll uh second grade and fourth grade are both in the pods in the middle and first grade is in the music room. So that'll return the music room back to Riverview um to the music teacher at Riverview as well as second grade and fourth grade will come out of the pods and go into those three spaces. Um the plan is in in forecasting forward for 26

045and 27, the four rooms will be utilized for our preschool. uh the four primary rooms in the in the basement we use utilize for our preschool to start. It gives us a fourth room upstairs for a potential second or fifth section of kindergarten if needed. Uh we don't know what enrollment is and we can't predict but Riverview has fluctu fluctuated between four and five sections of kindergarten depending on the year. Uh so we are looking to that will be the start of that and as the um casement property starts to build or we start to see more enrollment um we will adjust as needed but right now for next year for the the pre- will shift preschool over to Riverview for those four spaces um that was designed and we will move preschool if needed.

046Um hopefully we'll keep them there for a couple years because we we seem to move preschool all the time. It's a traveling you know traveling classroom. We want to keep them in a home and find them a home base. Um that would free up some classroom space at Mel Ridge uh where the four preschools are there. So it'll free up some swing space if we needed uh as we're going through the Buckeye edition and what Buckeye looks like for next year too. So we have that potential for um as that side of town is under construction. It gives us the room for some swing space as well if we need to implement that. >> Thank you. Currently currently the um Silly property isn't anywhere near beginning. >> It is not as far I I haven't

047had an update recently on But I do know they were delayed and I have not seen anything um any type of earth equipment to start moving ground but I it's also start coming on November. So I don't know if they would start now. >> I think they're scheduled to start to deliver students at the end of 2026. >> That's that's speculation. So >> okay. And I wanted to say that um in touring uh Riverview several times um the support services are pretty jammed into spaces, sharing spaces and really needs some dedicated spaces. There was that one classroom upstairs that was really um you know modeled to have um you know some special ed service in there where it had a tutoring room, it had a changing room, it had another area um that was more

048of classroom. Um so, you know, I wouldn't want to see kindergarteners upstairs the following year. We'd have to talk about how that would look. But um you know originally that was what that space was designed for because there was a lot of discussion about having um a place where there could be a changing table for a child who's older. Okay. And um or children who are older and then having those small tutoring rooms and things like that. The other thing is at Mel Ridge um right now there are you said some support services like I don't know OT speech whatever >> there are there are some support services they're using the modular units we would move them inside as well so free up some space >> right right and um you know hopefully get rid

049of that trailer because um you know there's been issues with leaking in that trailer as well even though it's currently corrected. All right. >> Um and then I had one other item. something similar. I wanted to know from my >> Gracie, I just have a question. Okay. >> So, uh, Dr. Ratino, the music room is being used as a classroom this year. >> It is. It is a first grade or Yes, it is a first grade classroom. Right now, >> what was the music room used last year as a classroom? >> It was a fifth grade classroom last year. >> And the year before that, was it used? >> It was a music room then. >> Okay. So, we've been without a music room for two years. for the kids. Okay, that that's uh we

050want to give all the kids back the full opportunity of education in this district. Also, uh we have a couple classrooms in the pods. I don't know if everyone knows what a pod is, but you basically have four classrooms around a pod. The pods in the middle. >> We do. We do. This year, uh we decided to do that because we brought back some special ed unit classrooms to the at the beginning of the year um because that's we knew that we were going to have the additional classroom space. We moved them out of um it was we moved one out of Buckeye and one out of Melidge to free up spaces so we could remove the modular classrooms at at those schools um and so moved them back. So we had to do some

051shuffling around internally but that's what we we had done. >> Right. And the pods were initially well when the school was built they were meant for those four classrooms to utilize that space in the middle. So when people go out of those classrooms they have to walk through the pot. Is that correct? >> Yes. And in the classrooms that they at they walk around there's there's temporary walls up they do walk around. So >> so just saying we need we need to get back to uh some normaly. So that's that's u the reason for the addition. Of course then with 1500 homes being built we're going to need some space. Thank you. >> Can I ask my next question? >> Sure. >> Thank you. Um, so I also wanted to know from our administrative team,

052um, how the upgrades that are being proposed at Buckeye will allow the district to further consolidate if possible. I'm not sure, um, how it's currently structured, if there's a solution that would allow the district to close Malidge potentially with minimal cost adding to the Buckeye project. So, is there any conversation around that? Was there any cost estimates that were done for that type of a proposal? As it currently stands, uh we would still need Melidge. Eight classrooms does not uh the the eight classroom edition would not absorb the students in Melidge without significant redistricting. We could look into that. We can do some studies. I guess what I'm asking is was there any conversation about how we could do that if we made the >> we had some initial if we did X then we

053could potentially close the school and the board chose to put eight classrooms instead of the initial >> 12 to 14 if we would have done the 12 to 14 classroom addition that would be that that would definitely be feasible. I think even with ten and redistricting for now, we could close it if the casement property were to come online and as expected and be built as expected about 1500 homes. Um, with a majority of those homes having students, we would have some some struggles with that. I think we'd have to bring the school back. I wouldn't recommend moving this Uber or taking the school completely offline. maybe repurposing it for a short period of time, maybe to redo it and fix it, but then I think we would still we the property could be used,

054>> but we didn't really have that conversation. >> we did a little bit to some extent and then the eight classroom edition was was changed >> both selected >> and enrollment is um you know unpredictable. We didn't know that we were going to have two less kindergarten sections this year, one at Buckeye and one at Riverview. Um and you know if um class sizes go down for example at um second grade at um um it's current third grade um at Buckeye uh that they you know have only two sections whereas in second grade there were three sections and I think a similar situation existed at uh Parkside but the fact is you have to watch enrollment and you don't know what those numbers are going to look like but we certainly don't want uh 27

055seven plus kids in a first grade classroom, for example. That happened at RI Riverview, in kindergarten, and in first grade. And now this is the first year we were able to add another section for those students because of the the class sizes being so large. So I I just would like to go back to the conversation that we had and I think it was December when we started talking about Buckeye and it seems to me that at that meeting we were talking about a larger addition and I'm curious when the board had conversation at the board table. I I know that when we finally approved it it was smaller than what we had discussed originally. Um, I think I'd kind of like to know where that happened because I don't think it happened at the

056board table, at least by my recollection. >> So, we didn't have that conversation at the table, I guess, is what I'm saying. We did not have that here, and it may have been done elsewhere, but we started the whole conversation with a larger addition. Okay, that's fine. I have my answer. We can move on. Thank you. >> Anything else? Okay, discussion of new business. >> So, I do have new business and I think it's something that we as a board need to continue to discuss from here on out um so we can figure out what's next. So, everything's in progress. Um, we have approved a loan for 20 25 years. Is it is it 20 years? 25 years. >> It Well, you have in your booklet that I gave you, you have a repayment schedule

057towards the back. It gives you variety of options, but to hit the numbers, not the one that's folded in, but it's actually in your binder towards the very end. Flip it again. One more. >> One more. No, the other way. Yep. That way. That way. Keep going past that. >> This one. >> Okay. >> And it will look like >> this one. >> Looks like this. >> Okay. That is the repayment schedule on the comps. The TANS is locked in at 10 years because it can't exceed 10 years. Uh Ohio law also requires that um we not in debt u on its hands more than half of our PI funds, yearly PI projected PI funds, which we're we're not. We're at about a third. Uh so, but the cops, it's like mortgaging a home. If

058you have a 15-year mortgage, you're going to pay less in interest, but your payments are going to be higher. So this is it'll be ultimately the board's decision what number we land on but to hit what we have budgeted for would be 25 years. >> Right. So 25 years. Um I see you also have the PI account expenditures and reserves with an ending cash balance over to fiscal year 30 on here too. Correct. >> Correct. There's always I if in the 10-year um PI projections that's a long time to predict revenue but and expenditures can because they're both projected in the five and the 10ear look at it. Uh but the you can see as things stand right now based on what we know right now uh that does not include any more building projects.

059It doesn't include any major repairs. Um you can see that on average we end up somewhere around in the neighborhood of about 7 to $800,000 um each year left in the PI fund after we make our payments and after we purchase things like four buses a year, etc. Our our predicted PI expenditures. Does that make sense? >> Yeah. So basically we have a buffer of about 7 or $800,000 for the unexpected uh boilers, roofs, etc., etc. >> So and that kind of leads to my question. So I think as a board we need to start discussing how the district plans to continue addressing facility needs across all schools including the high school and middle school. I think we need to discuss how we will manage risk for major building repairs. Boilers I think how much

060was the boiler to replace at lemouth? boilers can exceed $100,000. >> Rich, I'd rather defer to you, Rich. Actually, >> I believe was all told like 195,000 approximately >> with installation and everything. >> Correct. And that was an inind a a Ford like exchange. So, we didn't change any piping. We just basically took old boilers, put the exact style back in, did a little bit of piping, and that was it. We didn't make any larger improvements than that. >> Okay. But again, that's a major repair. If we had a roof leak and we had to do roofing, that's a major repair. Like I just I just think we have to have a plan because our PI fund is now um low and we just need to have a plan for if we have a major

061expenditure. We also need to talk about how do we fund future projects. So, if this is um coming out of our PI fund for 25 years, well, how do we continue to make improvements based on our facilities plan? So, I just want to open up the discussion and start talking about that um and see what everybody's ideas are because um at this point, I'm not sure that we will have money to continue to work on our facilities plan for the next 10 years at least or plus. Well, we had the Bowski report that came out with major uh deferred maintenance and costs and my question would be why wasn't anything addressed four or five years ago? >> Yeah. So, again, I'm I'm asking how are we moving forward? >> Well, I'm looking at the past.

062>> But yeah, the but the past, you know, nothing was done when all of these things were looking the board right in the face. Nothing was done. That's great. >> Now we're trying to do things. >> Mr. We had a plan. We had a plan to build a new school. It failed. We came back. We asked our superintendent to go out and build another plan. He worked with >> I'm talking about deferred maintenance. I'm not talking about new build. >> And if you go back and look at the history 10, 15 years ago, this school district did not have money. We cut busing. We cut specials. We made people pay an exorbitant amount for pay to play. They didn't have money. I wasn't on the board at the time, but they did not have money

063to make improvements to school. So, yes, we did not maintain our schools. We did what we needed to. After that, there was a plan put in place. The first part of the plan passed. We built brand new schools that took care of some of those issues. >> But you never address. Excuse me. Because why would you put money into schools that you were planning to tear down based on the facilities plan? That's a waste of t that's a waste of cash off our district's money. >> But once that once that levy failed, you should have taken another direction and addressed those maintenance needs. >> We did. We did. We started to make a plan. >> Where is the plan? Um, well, it was put aside for what your ideas were and the plan is in

064our website if you want to go look at it. Plus, I think I sent a copy of it to you. So, there's a facilities plan that there's ideas in. So, now I'm asking >> ideas. >> Go read the facilities plan. My point is, what are we going to do? We need to start talking about how are we going to fund these projects because we do not have money to fund them. >> So, how are we going to move forward? the Bowski plan if had about a hund00 million worth of things that needed to get done. >> So with the money that we have left here, which if I'm not mistaken, this this PI account has not been updated in a while because it's the same one I've been looking at for a while. So there

065may be other things that have come out of here since this has been updated. Um, but if we only have $512,000 left, say at the end of fiscal 26, if nothing else were to go wrong, how do we how do we start addressing the $100 million because we've now committed $860,000 for 25 years. >> So, we we don't have we don't have millions of dollars to to start addressing the rest of the things that were in that plan. How are we going to address that? And I think that's what Mrs. Kerninski is trying to get at. What is the plan to start addressing those? >> Well, when the Bowski report came out, why wasn't it addressed then? It wasn't addressed. >> The reality that's the reality. >> I'm sorry. Go. I'm sorry. >> No, go

066ahead, please. >> Just the reality at this point is very similar to a district I've worked in previously. The buildings are where they are. It is what it is. Um, and there's only one way to really truly address the facility needs of this district that are going to come um through hook or crook uh because a roof falls in eventually. Um, and that is it's going to require a substantial amount of money to make those plate repairs or or new builds. I we're we're the high school in my opinion and based on not just my opinion but based on the reports that we have um will need could be potentially renovated but it's a it's significant dollars. So at this point the uh we're leveraging the PI levy to get as much done as we

067can but we pretty much are topped out on there. I would not recommend any further debt issuance without a vote because we don't have we don't have enough money coming in. We have to maintain that money in the PI account after this issuance for emergency situations. Um it would be it you know it would be uh irresponsible of us not to do that. But to address the other elephant in the room, which is the building that we're sitting in in the middle school and the uh un you know the uh part of Buckeye that needs renovated and whatever the decision is with Mel Ridge, it's it's tens of millions of dollars that will only come through community support. Period. >> Thank you for the clarification. Anything else on new business board of education committee and

068liaison reports? Uh the uh business advisory meeting. I was not there. Dr. Ratino, would you like to share the meeting? >> Our next business advisory is I believe it's coming up. We did not have one. You were at the last one. >> Oh, we didn't have one. We didn't. We have them every other month. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> I thought I thought I missed an email or something. >> No, you did. We have them every other month. So, it's >> all right. >> Um, it is November. >> When is it? Oh, November 6th. >> Yeah, that's correct. November 6th because >> the first Thursday. >> First Thursday. >> Okay. >> All right. So, November 6th is the next meeting >> and buildings and grounds. Mr. Carl Lesk shared a few items in our buildings

069and grounds meeting said the heating season has started and we are up and running based on heating needs. Preparations for the so snow season are ongoing and we approved Northshore paving and they are going to mobilize their snow equipment to the campus the first week of November. We are going to reapprove the snow removal contract with an upgrade uh for the new Riverview parking lot which will be needed to be added to their contract. So, we discussed that roof repairs were made due to leaks at Buckeye Riverview and Parkside. It's uh as a roofing contractor myself, it's uh quite bothersome that we continue to have problems on new buildings. Riverview and Parkside are what, six, seven years old. >> So, and the other side of that is Rich, are are we using a local company

070to do those repairs? >> Yeah, we're paying someone locally because when those buildings were built, the roofing company was hired out of Indiana. So, guess what? Call them and good luck. So, we are paying the cost every step of the way for not doing that properly. Um, repairs to the audible fire devices were made. Chemical lab, the chemical lab storage halon system had a high pressure discharge hose. Anyone that knows what that is, was replaced on October 10th. Um, the old one had reached its lifespan, so it needed replaced. Condensate pumps for high school steam boilers were serviced. One pump was found to be overly corroded and will be replaced. uh several smaller parts were replaced as well. And so, thank you, Mr. Alesk, and your team uh for staying on top of that. Lake

071County Health Department will do fall inspections of all the schools. November 4th, Riverview and Parkside boilers. Again, going back to what wasn't done properly when the schools were built, we have boilers that we we've had continual problems with. And um now we're looking at $274,000 to replace them and that's at a discount. So why did that happen? Okay, but we're here now. We have to deal with it. It's a huge huge number. And Mr. Allesic, we've replaced different parts. How many times now? >> We've replaced two heat exchangers, roughly nine low water cut off sensors, and we have two heat exchangers that are currently down, one at Parkside, one at River View. We do have the heat exchangers. I'm currently in in-depth conversations with multiple parties and doing the best I can to come up

072with a solution that is going to be greatly effective for the district for the life of the boilers and be as cost effective as possible to come after >> with the heat exchangers different things we've had to replace. How much approximately have we spent thus far? Uh, I believe we are up to roughly $74,000 for two heat exchangers. Um, I do know that 2023 the first heat exchanger with labor was right around $18,000. The second heat exchanger 2 years or I would say 18 months later um jumped to a number right around $60,000. There was no indepth reasoning behind why the heat exchangers went up other than that's just what the market is doing. And I do know in current talks that heat exchangers have almost doubled again in their cost for boilers. So we're

073at the mercy with parts to the >> right. And so to replace the boilers, we're looking at $274,000. That would be four new boilers. add the other costs and we're closing in on $400,000 of unnecessary costs just because they weren't those those boilers should have never been installed in those buildings. Another water leak was discovered at the water box at the football field and um things wash away underneath when that happened. So, that's been turned off um and and there's not going to be a repair on that at least till spring, right? Okay. Um, okay. And then the other item is that the CTE and Riverview additions are moving along. Well, and that's what we talked about in buildings and grounds. >> Can I ask a question? Um, the heat exchangers and those issues in

074our new schools are not something that we could have predicted or known about when the schools were built. Those are >> defects of manufacturer defects if I'm not mistaken. Correct. >> In all in all honesty, in the conversations that I've had with multiple contractors, vendors, engineers, um, HVAC companies, uh, we've had a lot of testing done on the units. We've had water clarity testing done on the units. We've had conversations that are endless. There is nothing that is showing fault directly to one item, one individual, one situation at this time. And as anybody knows, in today's world, nobody's going to stand up and raise their hand and say I swear. Um, but there is nothing that's clearly black and white that says we should have done this, we shouldn't have done this, you did this

075wrong, they did this wrong. Um, so it's a lot of gray area that we are currently dealing with, >> right? I just want to make sure that, you know, the public is hearing the right information that it's there's there's not something that the district did at fault or that we put in wrong materials that was the things that were specked in by our team um our architect team um and construction team and that we're just dealing with things that happen in normal course of construction. And if I'm not if I'm hearing correctly, we could be talking almost $500,000 between two boilers and heat exchangers. Is that what I'm hearing? With the deep as of now, the good deep discount from the distributor of manufacturing boilers. the district with labor and boilers would be if we

076went the boiler route which is four boilers and installation we would be in for about $275,000 if we did just the heat exchangers which is a gamble because we do not have a clear pathway as to why this is happening and what we can do to prevent it. Um, if we did two heat exchangers, we're looking at right now about with a discount of $69,000 between parts and labor. But again, that is going to be a gamble unless we have a clear solution and path that says if we do X, Y, and Z, we can guarantee that this is not going to happen in six or months or 12 months from now. >> Okay. >> But I've not had that information come to me yet. >> So, let me ask a question. on our board

077agenda. Don't we have don't we have approval of dollars for heat exchangers? >> We do. And that's a a safety measure because if another one goes down, we won't have heat in one of the schools. So, we want to have them on hand in case we need them. If we don't need to need if we don't need them, then we will return them for a full refund. >> And so that was at a cost of I think it was somewhere around 77,000. All I guess I'm getting at is that when we are looking at our PI fund forecast and the balance at the end of 26 and it was estimated quite some time ago at about $512,000. We're we're already talking using up those dollars between perhaps boilers or you know we're already talking about

078using those dollars and so we just eat away at the balance with again nothing left in case something else happens. So just keeping an eye on that. Thank you. >> Okay. So just to be sure, it's been said off the record that these boilers should have never been installed in those schools. Wrong boilers, wrong application. On top of that, we don't have warranties. Our warranties are non-existent. Okay? And and the way that the way they handle that process is when you're when you're doing new buildings, when you're doing construction projects, you have what's called an owner's rep, an owner's manager, which did not happen in in the building of those two buildings. $38 million and there was no owner's rep. So when an owner's rep is there, that person's job is to make sure everything's

079accurate and correct and to double check things and that didn't happen. Just saying we're doing that now. Okay? We don't want to look too much in the past, but it's frustrating when we're spending over $300,000 on things we don't need to spend. And we're getting close to where if something else went down, we wouldn't have heat in one of the buildings. So, we we just need to do things the right way is all I'm saying. >> So, if I'm not mistaken, we actually had an owner's rep. I can't remember his name. >> Well, you did not have an owner. >> We had we had an owner's rep. >> No, no, there was no one under contract. The person that was used was an administrator or someone else close to the administration who had a little

080bit of construction experience and that person was not hired under contract as an owner. >> I will look it up. We had an owner. >> I have asked for that contract and have not received it. >> I will find it. >> So, please find it. >> Okay. So, you um I think partially answered my question about any kind of warranty with the history of recurring problems, but is there anything legally we could do or so? That was my only concern, something to consider. >> The equipment had a 5-year warranty. We are now six years into the build, so that has expired. As far as legally, I think it's a it's a potential stress, but I would leave that to the experts to to give us more guidance on that. Um, the only item I would

081caution is that trying to chase this could be a two to threeyear endeavor. Um, we don't have two to three years. I'm not saying we don't try to get our monies back, but I need to bring to the board in this school district and I need to bring forward evidence that we have an absolute reason why this has happened. And when I do get that information, if I do get it, I will definitely pass it along. But at this point, it's very, very gray. And there's nothing even the report for the warranty for the heat exchanger that did go up to Canada to Maztec which is the mother company of RBI. Uh their report came back that during their investigation of the heat exchanger that they were given to examine. There was nothing definitive to

082say by this. So when you get a report that says nothing was definitive, you are swimming in the pool of gray because you can go any direction you want and point fingers at whoever you want to say this was wrong or that was wrong. But the experts are telling you that there was nothing definitive during that examination, >> right? It's interesting in terms of, you know, you're not talking about a singular unit, you're talking about two and and probably probability of having the same issue. >> I have asked the same questions a thousand times. I'm sure you have >> still getting the likes of the roundab. >> Okay. >> Right. Part of the problem is the company's in Canada. >> Good luck with that. >> Okay. So, Mr. Arlesic, would the same brand boilers be

083installed as new or would it be a different brand? >> Masttec is offering the school district RBI boilers at a deep discount. currently all in. I said we're about 274 275 all in. If we went to a different manufacturer and bought the same style of boiler, high efficiency boiler that we have, you're probably going to be looking in the market of 350 to 425. So, the option for the district to go elsewhere is there at a greater cost. Taking and looking deeply into the boilers that are being offered. Yes, they are RBI's. Yes, they are different style boiler. Um, I mean, I hate to say it at that kind of expense. I don't want to sound flippant, but $274,000 is a lot of money, but it's also it's a deal, but I'm not saying we

084jump at that deal until um I have more facts and that we certain that this is the avenue. >> Thank you. Because you're continuing to research that, right? So, thank you for your work on that. >> Um, I just want to note that the owner's rep was named David Riley. So, if somebody wants to >> And what company was that? >> I don't I can't I don't have the company here. He was he was a lawyer. >> Um, owners rep. So, we hired him as an owner's rep. I'm just telling you we have we had one. >> Yeah, he was a lawyer. Okay. So, um, any other discussion of new business? >> We were on the >> buildings and grounds. >> Oh, sorry. I'm moving backwards. Let's not move backwards. >> Okay. >> Buildings and

085grounds. I think we're >> we're done with that. wrapped up. My buildings and grounds is done. Thank you, Mr. Arlesic, for taking over that conversation. It's It's I I know that you've put in a tremendous amount of time and effort thus far. And when when you're asking three different parties who's responsible, everyone's pointing the finger at everyone else. That makes that job very difficult. So, thank you for continuing to do that. Okay. So, curriculum and programming. >> Okay. Okay, the curriculum programs committee met on October 20th and this um uh we talked about the upcoming uh professional development for staff. Uh those meetings will be held on Monday and Tuesday, November 3rd and 4th. There will be no school for students on those days. Uh Dr. Malikar stated that there would be three sessions. um

086learning teams will continue with their training on the new CPM math and benchmark reading programs um with technology specifically on the the magic school um program that we have an AI it's an AI uh excuse me AI online program for staff um and grades 6 through 12 will train on schooling correct is that the >> that's what I asked it was something about schooling That's why I asked you what it was. >> Oh, I didn't know that was the one thing you were asking about. I didn't catch that. >> So, is that some other thing they're working on or are they part of the AI training with Magic School? >> That's clarification I asked. >> Okay. I'm sorry because I don't recognize that name. So, I think we may have written it down. >> So,

087they're doing it as well because I think >> So, we have we have our 6 through 12 working with schools as well as everyone would do AI. >> Okay. Okay. But we're not training on that. No. >> Okay. Then in addition, um there's going to be a legal update that will be be provided by our board's attorney, Dr. or um Mr. Dan McIntyre. And on Tuesday, uh the staff will meet with their respective grade or department level teams with a focus on personalized learning. Another topic discussed at the program's meeting was a data review of test results uh from state testing and in-house assessments like MAP. Um and teachers meet weekly in teacherbased teams to review each uh child's results and progress to determine if intervention or extra help is needed. There are also building

088level teams that review data via the new dashboard and assisted by the reading, math, and district coaches. And we had a little bit of information on that at our uh last meeting on the dashboard. Um there was an update on lifewise um the religious program offsite um during lunch and recess time. It is on target to begin at Buckeye in third grade in November. Um, also cursive writing was a topic I brought up. Um, it is taught at second grade using the Zer Blowser program. Dr. Mankar will provide a copy of materials and more information about the program um, just to see or ensure that students can read and write cursive. Um, and then on tonight's agenda, there's going to be the approval of the Discovery AD, which is an online resource for kindergarten through

089grade 12. This is a renewal and a widely used resource paid for by the general fund. And then um Mrs. Camille Rit, our executive director of student services, reported that the uh preschool at Mel Ridge is currently administering the early learning assessment for all students and students are also screened for vision and hearing. Uh the specialists are assisting with progress monitoring and entering data that can be shared with staff on the program branching minds. so everyone can access it. Um the new program um playground equipment and design at Riverview has been finalized with the color scheme of taupe and dark green. Cleveland construction has donated some building supplies to the Riverside uh CTE program and Mrs. um will be reaching out to see if some items could be designed or built by our classes moving

090forward um to use on uh Riverview's playground, but also possibly other playgrounds in the district. And our next meeting will be held on November 14th at 7:30. Uh the other um uh part of the committee um Buckeye I did reach out to Ryan Schmidt who is the then design um architect and I just inquired again about um the playground the current playground and when um prep would take place that we make sure that there's not a lapse in students having um a place to play with equipment. And so he was on that and had conversations with Cleveland Construction about it. And lastly, the strategic plan liaison. We're really haven't done anything. >> We can meet and review it. We can >> Yeah, we we'll set up something. Sure. >> Okay. All right. That's it for

091curriculum. >> Thank you. Policy committee. >> We have brand new policy on the um agenda today. This is a second read, so it is approval of it. Most of it is due to um revised code changes and they were cleaning up all of our policy to combine like policies and make sure terminology was all updated. So everybody has that. They've had it for probably over a month now to review them. Um so again that vote is on here. Um for alumni committee uh we had the alumni hall of fame. Um six people were inducted into the hall of fame. It was a really nice dinner. It's always great to hear the stories. you can go out on their Facebook page or their website and you can get an update on everything that the alumni committee

092is doing um and take a look at that. They are currently taking applications for next year's Hall of Fame. So, the deadline to turn in an application is 2000 uh sorry, um January 31st, 2026. The forms again can be found on the website. So, if there's somebody you know that is a Riverside graduate that you'd like to um go ahead and nominate to be inducted into the Hall of Fame here at Riverside, um go out there and um sign them up and put in the information. Again, the the dinner is a really nice dinner. It was a really great time just hearing them celebrating the successes of some of the students. So, um they also voted to donate $3,000 to the softball team's new electronic sign. So, that is official now. um and they'll be

093um one of the sponsors of that new sign out there on the softball field. And then they're also looking for opportunities. So I think Dr. Rino, they'll be in touch. They're just looking for opportunities to get more involved in the district and um ways that they can help out. So that's all for my report. >> Thank you for that superintendent report. >> Booster organizations first, >> correct? >> Yes. >> Oh, I'm sorry. poster organization liaison. So, the boosters, we had our RPTA meeting again early in September. There's no new updates from that. Your elementary PTO's and your middle school PTO are busy at work doing great things for their schools. Please see their websites and their homeschool websites for the calendar of events that they have. There are a lot of meal discounts out there

094that Mr. Caribine will post the day before those things happen. So, please watch our Facebook page so that you can see those things. Um the athletic boosters. I'm still waiting to hear from administration if we have any update on how we can corral the the athletic boosters a little bit better. Yeah, I know you're working on that. I heard it's it's a large undertaking. >> It is a large undertaking. Um and so it would be great because again the RPTA it's it's great to have those folks all in one place and to hear from them. It's hard to get in touch with all of the folks for the athletic boosters. So, if we could perhaps move that along, that would be great. That's all I have. >> Thank you. Superintendence report. >> Okay. It's been

095a busy month. Um, great month though. As Mrs. Kroniski mentioned, we did the alumni hall of fame did host its ceremony October 11th and six new members were inducted into our Riverside Alumni Hall of Fame. Um, really great stories that came out from this event. Congratulations to Beth Keszvich who is the first female uh the first female veteran um inducted into the Hall of Fame. So that's really exciting. Uh Frank Vakarelloo who's just obviously into not only into donating time back to the Hall of Fame or back to I'm sorry the alumni committee but also through uh charities throughout the uh area including Subzero Mission. Jen Yorko, who is the first female general manager of a minor league team to win uh the championship. So, uh that's a great um accomplishment there. Andrew Brown, who

096is the only Riverside a that we can tell the only Riverside athlete to play in the major leagues and is his claim to fame is that Aaron Judge is 0 for8 against him. So, he was a pitcher and that's >> Wait, wait, wait, wait. Did he walk him eight times? >> No. No. Uh he had like three or four strikeouts too. I think he did say that this was in the minors and that Aaron Judge is a very large man. >> Well, that's but that's still it was something to kind of say there. Um Beth um I'm sorry, Betatina Han Lawson is a swimmer and she still holds the record um for the I believe it's the 53. Um and then Brian Schwanki who is a heck of a basketball player and football player for

097us as well and is in his uh college hall of fame as well. So, so that's congratulations to all of them. Um, also fall sports, we're wrapping up the fall sports season. Uh, girls volleyball unfortunately came to an end last night. Uh, they did lose uh to Twinsburg in five. I think the last game was like 15 to 12 or something. It was a great great set all the way through. Uh, boys and girls, uh, but girls volleyball, boys and girls golf were all WRC champs. We did mention both boys and girls golf being the champs at the last meeting. Girls second year in the league and they're champs. So they're they're up there doing it right. Boys and girls cross country finished in the top third in the WRC and they are we have

098some runners I think who are still competing. Football is currently six and three and they play tomorrow night for the league championship. Let's hope hope this rain holds off. Uh but they will share the league championship and also playoff implications are on the line as well. They did reduce the OSAA playoff teams to 12 instead of the 16 they had before. Um and then boys and girls soccer did finish their season but did lose in the district semiis. Um that was last night or or that was this year. Uh also national honor society held its inductions uh for this year. Uh congratulations to the 19 uh Riverside High School students who were inducted in the National Honor Society. Again, just a reminder to be considered for membership, students must have a cumulative grade point average

099of a 3.5. And they have to meet high standards of leadership, service, and character. And they have to continue that service leadership um throughout their time while in the National Honor Society by putting on those great events um like the one they just had, which was Boo Fest. So that's one of theirs and they have other ones that come up too. So great organization. And like I'm foreshadowing, Boofest um is put on like I said mentioned by National Honor Society. It's a great event. It was hosted uh last weekend. Uh the event featured haunted houses, trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, and games, face painting, and more. In fact, this uh very room we're sitting in was turned into a haunted house. Um and the students kind of as people work through it. Um the the money

100raised, they raised more than $800 and that will be split between NHS scholarships and Forbes House this year. So, one thing you need um for that. Veterans Day is coming up and Riverside has a long-standing tradition of hosting veterans assemblies at each of our schools. We welcome any and all local veterans in the community uh to attend the local school annual veterans ceremony and lunchon. Uh we do have one at the high school which is the lunchon um November 11th which is Veterans Day at 11:00 a.m. But all of our schools are hosting veterans some sort of veterans day ceremony as well. Coming up is our annual citizens senior citizen appreciation night. that is Thursday, November 20th at 4 o'clock. That is the same day as a board meeting. There was a request to move

101the start time of that board meeting till 7. Um, if we could do that to make sure that we can do all that. So, I know that request has been made. We can discuss that at some point, but if we're all okay, I've kind of seen some push that start time back. Are >> you okay with that? >> So, we'll move it to seven and we'll mark that down. Um, and that also is the free dinner and screening of the fall play, the odd couple female version. um as I'm looking to that they've redone the odd couple um starring two women and what if two women roomate were roommates. So it sounds like a pretty funny play um and it's one that's exciting. And speaking of that, it's coming up on the 20th, 21st and

10222nd. The 20th is at 5. That's our senior citizen show. The 21st and the 22nd start at 7:30 and tickets can be purchased on the drama department website or at the door um as well. and some save the dates as we kind of get into our holiday festival. Halls of Holly which is uh Saturday December 13th is from 12 to three and it's a family familyfriendly winter holiday themed event hosted by our side leadership program. U just you know get you in the mood for the holiday spirit as well as our national honor society uh market craft show which is also on um the halls of holiday and that's in the morning from 9:00 a.m. to 3 p.m. and stop into the gym. uh local vendors will be there to kind of sell sell local

103wares. Um a lot of lot of different unique Riverside themed things as well. So both both great holiday events that are becoming real traditions uh within the community. That concludes my report for this. >> Thank you for that treasurer's report and committee update. >> Do you have anything, Mr. Keane? >> Uh we just had a fairly short meeting. uh the other uh last week. Um you'll see in the uh furthering in the agenda, there isn't a whole lot under the uh finance and audit personnel. Uh pretty much the uh the same story, just routine uh business. Uh so that's essentially uh my report. >> Thank you for that. So um I have a few uh slides I think 33 slides to go through and it's riveting because everyone likes to talk about numbers don't we?

104Now I so what you have in your packets are the the usual reports that you're used to seeing. So what you'll see what you'll see on the slides is those reports I hope in a simplified way or a way that's a little more direct, a little easier to to read. Um so basically just the the summary of it is that um uh our fund balance is at $41.67 million with 28 million of that being in the general fund. Um, our financial position is stable and we're coming at least at through about a fourth of our school year, slightly above our forecasted levels. So, that is good. And yields on our investments are still doing well. They're not doing as well as they were a year ago when we were at 5%, but still coming in

105at 4% um on our investments is uh still pretty good. And so, I'm happy with that. Um and our revenues and expenditures remain pretty much on target. You can see there our bank balance of 41 almost 42 million and book balance is exactly the same. So they're they're they're reconciled uh at this point to the penny. And some of our big accounts where we are in do uh holding many of our investments is Star Ohio and Redee are our um large accounts where they uh manage our funds and invest our funds of course in um in in in safe investments and but yet still getting a decent yield. um general fund. You can see um what is unencumbered out of our general fund. Um our bond retirement and food service and food service is showing

106a deficit but don't that that will erase itself over the course of the year. In fact, um we have made some significant upgrades from revenue as a result of food service. um our permanent improvement levy um sits uh you can see what we're sitting at at this point and our total funds again are 41.67 million 17 million of that encumbered and that gives you our unencumbered balance. So um our total appropriations are 73 million. Our expenditures year to date we've spent about 30% of what we projected. Uh we have a remaining uh balance of 44 million and our major expenditures to this point are aligning with our forecast. So just in summary um year-to- date revenues you can see at 22 million expenditures our net surplus our ending cash balance our unreserved fund balance um

107and structurally balanced funds we're in good shape so far revenue highlights again revenue of 56 million we've collected year to date about 40% of our expected revenue intake And that primarily comes from, which is um interesting in our conversation uh with Mr. Zuran, uh our real estate taxes at 15.98 million, which is about 46% of what we expect to take in over the year. Our state foundation dollars and that there there couldn't be a a better slide to illustrate our reliance on property tax. It's we didn't make the system but that's the system as it currently stands. So some highlights um am I okay? So again, spent year to date 25%. And you can see where we're spending those dollars. And in terms of trying to tighten our budgets, which this I take no credit

108for, but the the the administration has done and the board have done an excellent job in trying to keep those down. But when you're look when you take a look at where does our money go, there's not a lot of room for movement inside of that. Um, there just isn't. Um, so personnel, I can assure you that we're running lighter than most places I've worked previously and just walked walked into that. Uh, our investment portfolio with a little bit more detail. benchmark rates are still really good. So the key takeaways I think that come from our where we stand right now is balanced revenues and expenditures which is positive. We have strong liquidity and fund balance. Our investments are producing solid returns. All of our funds to the penny are reconciled and at this point

109I have no fiscal concerns at this point. has been stated, we will move into deficit spending. Um, for those of you that watched um the Well, actually, I think I got an Emmy, didn't I? No, >> I think I did from that from that 5-year forecast update. But remember, House Bill 920, House Bill 920 freezes revenue. So no matter how fiscally responsible you are, those axises will cross between expenditures and revenue. And that happens to Riverside School District next year, next fiscal year. We're projecting that um and uh at that point we'll lead into our cash reserves and then eventually uh what maybe 28 maybe we can stretch it to 29 and to keep that in perspective why I said we're doing better than most school districts and we are the average school district in

110Ohio's on the ballot for new money every 4.5 years we're going to hit 11, maybe 12. That's uh unheard of. That's unheard of. So, that didn't happen by accident. That happened because the district, the administration, and the board have been fiscally responsible. And that concludes my update. >> Thank you. >> I I had one question. Um there was a need for clarification on the 1 million. um and I think this preceded you on um the savings and staffing, but I know you're probably familiar with it. Could you elaborate on that? >> Yeah, sure. And I and and of course um M Dr. Ratino jump in here, but as I understand when I came in um we have the um long I don't know how many years he served as the assistant superintendent. >> Well, yeah.

111uh the assistant superintendent position was a was a significant source of that as well as when we um as teacher retirements happened. We we did some through attrition. Now, we're not saying that we're going to be able to sustain that uh depending on enrollment and all of that, but we took an opportunity when we can and when we saw it to make some significant uh shifts in in what we did for and kind of continue that on. So I I think we you know it depends on enrollment but at this point we we made some nice reductions through attrition and hired back staff when we needed them and make sure that we kept you know keep delivering the high quality education product but um you know did some did some pretty creative things with schedules

112and also with um different duties and responsibilities and and shifting some things around. So, so I think it's fair to say and it seems like we're on target to be right around that million dollars in reductions. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Thank you for that public comment. Anyone wishing to address the board of education will be recognized by the board president. Speakers are requested to speak from the podium, identify themselves and their topic. Comments are limited to three minutes. public speaking. >> Hi, thank you. Joe Adino, parent of three daughters in Riverside. I just wanted to touch base on a few things regarding LLB. I think there's a concern that we have from the public side of not just paying $250 an hour, but the quality of the emails, and I think Mr. Kinsky mentioned

113that earlier. There seems to be an obsession with the quantity of emails from some of you, but not necessarily the quality. We're concerned with both of them. We don't want the emails if they were zero. LLB could be paying us $250 an hour, and we do not want them. Why? Because they don't make sense. They're very redundant. Here's the topics that we keep seeing over and over again. We see things like where to find our YouTube videos. YouTube update on Riverview parking. We get it. The parking situation is being fixed. 90% of the the Riverside School District will never even be in that parking lot. They need to know once we can move on. The CTE wing, the Buckeye trailers. Speaking of the trailers, one email went out to make it sound like some board

114member should be blamed for the mold situation. No one's going to go up to a perfectly functioning wall, kick a hole in it to see if maybe there's mold in it. So, I guess if that's the outcome that we're expecting, who's checking the mold in Melidge? Is there mold in Melidge? Have we checked the trailers in Melidge for mold? And if so, who's to blame? Should we blame the board? I don't think so. So, we we C E-wing, Buckeye Trailers, false narrative on the Moody Report. Also, one out of a thousand people might know what Moody's even is. Praising select members of the board. Uh LLB can't pick these people at random. So, you guys are picking who is getting praised in these emails. The emails should be if we want to keep sending out

115emails to gain more people who are seeing them more visibility. How about National Principles Month, student achievements, staff milestones like major anniversaries or retirement? I hope you write some of these down. Uh maintenance transportation praise, sports programs, the band programs, the art. Why don't we see emails on that? Instead, we get pictures that have stock images of a sun balloon in the woods, in the grass, a picture of a chart that says wealth at the top. I I don't believe anything that we heard today is telling us that we're down the road of wealth. U so I'm hoping that maybe and I know there's probably going to be a switch in the narrative of the emails, but they probably won't be until November 5th. And I wonder why that date. Uh one last thing, um

116you had mentioned earlier, Mr. Official, that it might be difficult for us to get you said good luck getting a hold of a company that's in Canada. LLB is in Texas and the last time I checked an Atlas, Texas is a little further than Canada. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Thank you for the public speaking. Consent agenda fin. >> Sorry. Sorry. >> Sorry. >> So Samantha Brainard, I live in the district. I >> I'm sorry. Can you repeat that? Samantha Brainer. I have two children who graduated and I live in the district and I just want to add on to that company. So, I've worked in marketing for over 30 years. There are companies where you can purchase email addresses and you could do the work yourselves. So, if we have a director of

117communications, I'm not sure why he's not doing that work. And I do think the variety of emails can be different. You can go ahead and create campaigns. You can enhance those campaigns. And again to just kind of echo that sentiment, it should be a variety of information about the district. It should not be politicizing yourselves or a board or using a political climate to put your message out there. I have a lot of minutes, but I'm going to give them to someone else. Thank you. >> Hi, thanks for uh listening tonight. My name is Jeff Jordan. I have uh three children in the district. I have one at Jr., one at Lemouth, and then one at Melidge. So, thanks for taking the time to listen to my comments. Um, I wanted to just speak on

118a couple things tonight. First, I've, you know, been paying attention over the past yearish to these meetings more so than I did in the past. And so, uh, one thing that I've noticed is a continued pattern of communication that exists between the board members. And it's actually quite discouraging as a parent. Um I what I notice is Miss Graci, Miss Kroniski, they ask for points of clarification. They ask for more information. They ask for uh time to investigate before they make a vote on certain issues. Um and many times what they're met with is just resistance uh which we saw tonight uh with Mr. Keaney u or silence which we also saw tonight. She asked a question and no one answered her question. Um, and quite honestly, your job as a board is not to

119uh be pitted against one another. It's to collaborate with one another. Uh, this job should be apolitical. There's very little probably 5% of what this job involves as political. So to make it political is actually it's a shame honestly. Um so we expect as parents we expect more from you as a board uh in terms of collaboration. I find it really discouraging that we don't see that. Uh secondly I would think I was at the meeting or at least watched it online when we talked about the contract for the LLB company and many of us spoke we questioned we said why why the need for this company? So, um, at especially at $250 an hour, uh, it was really unclear to me, uh, the need for that service. And unfortunately, as the months have unfolded,

120it's become really clear what the reason for that hiring was. And it's basically, it's a thinly veiled political strategy. So, um, I hope all of you can see that in some of these emails. It, uh, as Mr. Adino pointed out, selectively highlights certain members of the board. Uh and honestly again this position is not political. It should be very apolitical. Uh and to make it as political as you have uh Mr. Fishell, Mr. Keaney, Mrs. Brewster, uh it's actually it's very discouraging. Thank you for your time. Good evening. My name is Lindseay Fortuna. I'm a resident of the Riverside Local School District here in Payneesville. I have three children, a sixth grader at Lemouth and two ninth graders at the high school. I have a few questions for Mr. Scott Fishell and Mr. Dennis Keaney

121who are running for reelection on a platform proudly declaring no DEI. I'm curious, Mr. Fishell and Mr. Keany, what exactly does DEI mean to you? Because most of us understand diversity, equity, and inclusion as the basic idea that every student should feel respected and supported and safe. If you're against that, I think the community deserves to know what part of fairness you find so offensive. You've also built part of your campaign around keeping CRT out of our schools. Could you please provide a single example, any document, lesson plan, or policy that shows critical race theory being taught or even considered in Riverside? Or is it just another talking point meant to stir people up about a problem that doesn't exist here? about the 29 emails sent last month by the outside communication. We can beat

122a dead horse about this place. Um, they're filled with grammatical errors, misinformation, and very little that actually benefits anyone in this community. Could you explain how the spending helps our students or teachers? Or is it just a taxpayer-funded extension of your campaign, which has been questioned now numerous times from other people? One more thing, the tone of your emails and your campaign materials, they're full of personal attacks on other board members and even new candidates. Why? How is tearing people down supposed to help Riverides students or schools? Because from where I sit, it doesn't look like leadership. It looks like ego. And there's no place for ego on this school board. Maybe instead of spending thousands of dollars spreading fear and division, we could focus on the things that matter. Supporting our teachers, educating our

123children, and showing our community what professionalism looks like. Thank you. >> Okay. Anyone else? Okay. Thank you for that. Uh consent agenda, finance and audit. I make a motion to approve items listed A through G on the finance audit consent agenda as recommended by the treasurer. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. I would just like to thank the following for their donations. SSC controls who donated to the raid program. Nicole and Brian Harrigon who donated to the academic decathlon team. and the Riverside Alumni Association who donated for the purchase of a new scoreboard for the softball field. So, thank you to all of them. >> Any other discussion? >> Not. Okay. Uh, please take the role. >> Mrs. Krenki. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Graci. >> I >> Miss Brewster.

124>> Hi, >> Mr. Fishell. I >> Mr. Keaney >> I >> motion carries five >> for that consent agenda personnel. >> Uh I make a motion to approve items listed A through G on the personnel consent agenda as recommended by the superintendent. May I have a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? Hearing none. Please take the role. Miss Brewster >> I >> Miss Kerninski >> I >> Mr. Fishell >> I >> Miss Graassy >> I >> and Mr. Keaney >> I >> motion carries 5. >> Consent agenda curriculum and programming. >> Okay. Um, I make a motion to approve the items listed on the curriculum and programming consent agenda as recommended by the superintendent. >> Is there a second? >> I'll second. >> Okay. Any discussion? Okay. Um, Dr. Thompson, can you call the RO,

125please? >> Mr. Keaney. >> Hi, >> M. Mrs. Grassy. Hi, >> Miss Brewster. >> I >> Miss Kreninski. >> I >> and Mr. Fishell. >> I >> motion carries 50. >> Consent agenda, buildings and grounds. >> Make a motion to approve the items listed on the buildings and grounds operations consent agenda as recommended by the superintendent. Can I get a second? I'll second. >> Thank you for that. Um, one item of discussion. Um, what's noted here is resolution to approve purchase order to gem service for the purchase and installation of a new heat exchanger on the boilers located at Parkside Elementary School in Riverview Elementary School at a cost of $89,66. $4450 44,533 per location and uh we discussed this in the in the buildings and grounds with the idea of purchasing these to not

126install them. Right, Mr. Allesic? This is just as a safety measure. Uh so we're approving this, but it's not to be installed. Um it's only if something breaks and goes down and has to be fixed. So I just want to make that clear. >> Just want to make a note that there's two items. We didn't say item A and B just so it's on record. Thank you. So, um, consent agenda for A and B and, uh, so then, can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Keaney. >> Hi, >> Mr. Fishell. >> I, >> Mrs. Graassy. >> I, >> Mrs. Kreninski. >> I, >> Mrs. Brewster. I >> motion carries 5. >> We have a policy agenda. >> So resolution to approve new and revise board policies as listed in the

127agenda. Can I get a second? Second. >> Any discussion? Okay. Can you call the role, please? >> Miss Miss Brewster. >> I. >> Mrs. Fernandki. >> I. >> Mr. Fishell. I >> Mrs. Grassy. >> Hi, >> Mr. Keaney. >> Hi. >> Motion carries 5. >> Board business. OSBA legislative platform proposed 2026 changes. OSBA legislative platform lines 370 to 405. So we um we vote on these all the uh annually so that Mrs. Rooster knows how to vote in terms of the OSBA because she will be the board's um designate right >> uh for that. So 370 to 405 specifically talk um to their changes regarding uh local control and OSBA supporting legislation that for that affirm local control and these were shared with the board a couple of times prior. So, the resolution to approve

128the additional language on lines 370 through 405 of the OSBA legislative platform to support legislation that affirms local control in making decisions regarding school governance. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. You call the role. >> And for a point of clarification, a a a yes vote is to support the resolution. Correct. >> Correct. Thank you, Mrs. Graassy. >> Hi, >> Mr. Keaney. >> Hi, >> Mrs. Kreninski. >> Hi, >> Miss Brewster. >> I >> Mr. Fishell >> I. >> Motion carries 50. >> Thank you. OSP Legislative Platform lines 496 through 1089. Make a resolution to approve additional language on lines 496 through 10989 of the OSBA legislative platform to support legislation regarding school funding. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? >> Just for points of

129clarification on this one. this um it is such a large um number because there's so many kind of updates throughout, but it really does speak to fair funding um and making sure that OSBA supporting funding that is sustainable throughout. >> Right. And the other thing they talked about was um uh properly funding uh special education costs and how that can be done because um there were some good proposals I thought um that were offered by school districts to do that. >> There's some there's some really um I think they're they're looking they they also understand property taxes um are need some reform. So they're looking for ways to support as well as, you know, making sure this public schools are are funded the way they need to be. >> Okay. >> Can you take the

130role? >> Mrs. Grassy. >> Hi, >> Mr. Fishell. >> Hi. >> Mr. Keaney. >> Hi. >> Miss Brewster. >> Hi. >> And that ends the page. So we're only taking four votes on that one. No. No. Next page. Mrs. Kreninski >> I >> motion carries 50. >> Okay. Another OSBA legislative platform lines 153 through 166. Resolution to approve additional language on lines 153 through 166 of the OSBA legislative platform. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Anything you want to add on that one? Um yeah, give me a second. Now this this one was brought um to them by Berea Schools and it's um it is this one was a hard one to kind of do. This one changes the section on racism and equity to change some of the language.

131>> This is the Berea one. >> This is this is the Berea one. >> Thank you. Correct. Um, okay. This is going to be interesting because the Berea one and the other two are conflicting. >> They are. >> So, you can't vote yes to both of them. >> Um, can you >> you can support both of them? >> Well, yeah. So, >> I'm just saying. >> Yeah. So the Brio one specifically, so the Brio one, >> so OSBA currently has in their platform a a section on um racism and equity. And the Brio one specifically uh changes the words racial and ethnicity to racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender, religious and so economic inequalities produce unequal opportunities for student success. Um and strong public schools are the equalizer in and education provide the foundation to change

132uh perceptions and attitudes. It is imperative that Ohio implement meaningful solutions that eliminate injustices uh disparit discipline and bias as well as foster equity to provide a catalyst for the sustained improvement of students of these communities. Um and OSBA supports legislation um that creates an inclus so the current platform OSBA creates an inclusive environment that ensures that our students have a future that allows students to be successful no matter their race, ethnicity and Berea added is proposing sexual orientation, gender identity, religion or back to the original language, social economic background. >> Okay. Can you take the role please? Do you should I took should we discuss the second one at this time? >> Probably just because they are they are conflicting. >> Okay. So in case someone wants to choose. >> Yeah. I I think

133it is good to discuss. >> I just want to note that Berea added and deleted stuff from the current >> right >> agenda like the current >> platform they modified it and added and and deleted. >> Right. Fry Fort Fry and >> and um >> Cro Valley Local. Yeah, they they actually >> they took >> eliminated the whole thing and just redid it >> and added a section based on >> correct >> called excellence in education and and equality for all and in their section. So that's the second that's the that's >> and theirs were identical. Yes, >> they were the >> they were so they submitted theirs. OSBA kind of took it and said this is what So item item D on your agenda is supporting the statement from the other two which says

134excellence in education and equality for all. Um and their their proposed language is OSBA seeks excellence in education and equality for all children without prejudice or respect to race, color, national origin and ancestry, religion, sex, economic status, age, disability or military status. OSBA is committed to ensuring school boards have the resources they need to provide students of all backgrounds and abilities that with a high quality education. Further, OSBA denounces any standards, curriculum, or training programs for students, teachers, or staff that seek to divide or or ascribe circumstances or or qualities such as collective guild, prejudices, or racial bias to a whole race or group of people. Next paragraph, OSBA supports legislation that, excuse me, affirms the primary place of academics in Ohio's K12 schools. Provides opportunities for all students to be successful regardless of race,

135color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, economic status, age, disability, or military status. Provides equal protection of law for all children. Promotes standards, curriculum, and training programs for students, teachers, or staff that seek to bring unity, excellence, and virtue. That's it. >> Thank you. Thank you for that. >> Okay. So, >> any further discussion? >> We have to vote on each. >> You have to They are separated out because they are different. You can vote affirmative for both. You can vote against both. >> But we have second. >> So we So we we're doing C. We're doing C first. We shouldn't do that one without discussing the second one because they are >> so we have the information and we had a motion and a second on C. Can you take the role? >> Wait, I'm

136sorry. Mly I mean when I read them they're pretty similar like I don't see any major differences between them. Am I Does anybody else see >> I don't know. I for me I thought the Berea I'm just going to go back. I was there when they actually passed this in the first place and I was the delegate when when this was brought into play in the first place. There was a whole ton of discussion. That meeting went on forever and there was no consensus on the floor. The vote was the vote was so disorganized and this platform got in there. There was a lot of communication regarding the platform. Um, I think it from in my opinion, my own opinion is the Berea one attempted to make corrections to it, but I think the other

137two got it right and just deleted it and started over. >> Yeah. Again, but they're still similar. Like I'm I'm trying to pick out what the major differences are. >> And I'm not I'm not seeing I don't know if anybody else saw any major differences. But I guess I'm asking if there >> I I did and uh in my opinion I believe that uh D is a better choice. >> Can I ask what differences you saw? >> Like what were the major differences? Again, I'm just having trouble picking them out. So I'm just trying to understand that. >> Um >> so >> I can't recall specifics. If we would like to read them all over again, we could do it. >> Not to read. I think it it's clarity and it's just how it was

138presented in each one. It it's what your comfort level is for. >> So I don't know for for me I'm just going to go on record as saying the first one says we acknowledge the historical and generational and compounding reality of systems structures and practices that have created and continue to afford advantages to some groups while perpetuate perpetuating inequities for others. I I I philosophically have an issue with that statement and the other two don't include that. This one just takes all of that out and not saying there's any blame to go around. I mean stuff is what it is. This was this I thought the Berea one and what is already in the platform politicizes too much and I don't believe that OSBA should be promoting politics in their advocacy efforts and social agendas

139and so I think getting rid of it for me was helpful um which is why I liked the other two and I would not want to approve the Bura one. That's just my perspective. >> I I I would agree with that. I think you said that quite well with the fact that it does politicize it and takes that social it's more of a the B one is more of an approach from a social justice standpoint. I think the other one really does take a look at OSBA platform in terms of of education and you know using the term a specific term equality versus equity and I think that that the other two does take that equality approach. I think that's um I from our district I think that's where we are more from historically where

140we've come from is in terms of on D than we are um >> more that way. >> Okay. Are we ready? Can you take the role please? >> Mr. Keaney >> uh nay. >> Mr. Fishell? >> Nay. >> Mrs. Grassy. >> Nay. >> Mrs. Kreninski. >> Nay. and Miss Miss Brewster. >> Nay. >> Motion fails. 05. >> Okay. D. Excellence in education and equality for all. This is um >> this is the second part of this is the Fort Fry or Sto Valley and Fort Fry local where they they are proposing eliminating the entire section on racism equity and replacing it with the excellence in education and equality for all. Please don't ask me to read it again. Okay, thank you for that resolution to approve additional language removing lines 153 through 166 of the

141OSBA legislative platform and add section and add section excellence in education and equality for all. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> So, can I ask a question because these were two separate two separately like both districts. Are they going to have this is one? Are they going to combine it and just make it one? Like I have no idea what they're I think it's going to be the word the wording is the same. I think it is going to be one motion to just add to remove to remove the education equity and put this excellence in. >> That's what it sounds. I can't speak to that. >> Right. So just in case like if if we vote to pass this, you can vote yes on both if they bring up this vote. Like

142I >> think that's the same with the financial things as well. They may break those up into chunks as well. But we voted yes for all of those lines. And right, if the wording is the same, the answer the vote could be yes on both. >> The yes would be yes on both if they vote too. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Can you take the role? >> Mr. Keaney. >> Hi. >> Mrs. Grassy. >> Hi. >> Mr. Fishell. >> I. >> Miss Brewster. >> I. >> Mrs. Krenki. >> I. Motion carries 50. >> Thank you. Board of Education update. Anyone? >> Yes, I have something. Hold on. Let me pull this up. Um, I would just like to congratulate uh we have eight students here at Riverside that have earned AP Capstone diplomas. Um, and I

143understand that this is our first year of offering courses that will allow students to earn this diploma from the College Board. In order to earn an AP Capstone diploma, students must earn a three or higher in both AP seminar and AP research as well as four other AP exams. And this is a major accomplishment for these students. We're going to have a celebration for them in the future um at the senior awards ceremony in the spring. But I wanted to give a shout out to those students who have achieved this. It's Clara Granchy, Tamley Hammond, Aiden Kanega, Brooklyn Kps, Grady M, Ella Penock, Natalie Revenac, and Samuel Zaherski. I just wanted to congratulate them for that. I think that's really awesome. Thank you for that. Next meeting announcement, finance and personnel committee, November 13th, 8

144a.m. Curriculum and programming committee meeting November 14th, 7:30 a.m. Board of Education meeting, November 20th at 6 p.m. >> 7 p.m. Because Oh. Oh, sorry. Sorry, sorry. 700 p.m. Okay. 700 p.m. Thank you. And then um anything else? I think that's it. Uh we will adjourn at 8:02. Can I I move to adjourn at 802. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Take the role, please. >> Mr. Fishell >> I. >> Mrs. Krennki. >> I. >> Mr. Keiny. >> I >> Mrs. Grassy. >> Hi. >> Miss Brewster. I >> motion carries 50. >> Have a great evening everyone. Thank you for coming.