August 14, 2025 Board of Education Meeting

001Call the meeting to order at 6 o'clock. Steve, can you call the role? >> Mr. Fishell >> here. >> Mr. Keaney >> here. >> Miss Brewster >> here. >> Miss Gracie >> here. >> Miss Krenneski >> here. Okay, can we please stand for the pledge? >> 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. >> Welcome. 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's business and is not to be considered a

002public community meeting. There is time for public comment during the meeting in the public participation section of the agenda. Approval of minutes. Make a motion to approve minutes from the July 24, 2025 regular meeting. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Can you call the role, please? >> Mr. Fishell, >> I. >> Mr. Keaney, >> I. >> Miss Brewster, >> I. >> Miss Grassy, >> I. >> Miss Keski, >> I. >> Motion carries fits. Approval of minutes uh July 10th, 20 uh 2025. Uh make a motion to approve the corrected minutes from the July 10th, 2025 special meeting. Can I get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Any discussion? Can you call the role, please? >> Mr. Fishell, >> I. >> Mr. Keaney, >> hi. >> Miss Brewster. >>

003Hi, >> Miss Graassy. >> Hi, Miss Grenenski. >> Hi. >> Motion carries. Fil. >> Special reports. >> Okay. Thank you. Uh I have two tonight. The first um August is usually the time when Mr. Allesic gets to come up and brag about how great his custodial staff maintenance team and the teacher helpers are. Um had to pivot on that one because he had some family business he had to take care of. So he'll be presenting September. And so we switched to talk about the upcoming rise strategic guidance framework. Uh Mr. Hall is here to kind of talk through it with myself as well as to where we're pivoting with our guidance department. So this came out of one of our goals and out of our strategic plan to look at what this is. So the

004rise strategic guidance framework has the vision that every student graduates with a clear plan for their future supported by strong counselor relationships, academic guidance and support from grades 8 through 12. So the focus right now is at the campus. Uh as we develop this and grow this out in year three, we do want to deepen that all the way through 6 through 12 where we have guidance counselors at Lemouth and on the Riverside campus. So it's a three-year plan, a three-year foundation. Year one, we really want to build that foundation. Um year two, we're looking at deepening the integration overall. And year three, you're deliver excellence a lot. Uh so we sustain that excellence and measure the impact. The purpose obviously is to deliver a consistent high quality student experience and we're going to use

005data to drive the improvement process throughout. Um this is something we're really working towards. Um met with counselors to kind of say, hey, how can we help? What's going on? Put some or taking care of some lowhanging fruit in year one, making some changes along the way as well. But year one is really focusing on those relationships. We want to build those trusted consistent connections between our counselors and our students. We want our we want our counselors to be the champion for our students in their in their case load. Um what we're doing is looking at a cohort-based counselor model. Currently, we have one counselor who specifically sits for grades 8 and then the other four work with grades 9 through 12. Starting this year, the eighth grade counselor is going to rise up and

006follow that cohort. And the 12th grade counselor will go back to 8th grade next year and focus through. So it's a it's a true model. They'll meet their counselor at the beginning of their eighth grade year. tonight. Actually, there's eighth grade orientation going on and so our families is being run by our eighth grade counselor. We'll help with that. We also want to work to increase our counselor visibility. We hear a lot of feedback um that our counselors need to be at more places um dropping some newsletters, actually just pumping out some updates along with Mr. Hall's weekly campus communication, having a counselor corner in there, having some regular kind of touch points for this visibility and this accessibility. Um, and then we want to launch um some centralized communication tools. So, they're going to

007work with Mr. Caravine uh to push out uh information from the counselors about upcoming events. We do it through the high school page as well, but trying to use some of our other platforms as well, including social media to reach our students. Um, you'll know that Riverside's on Instagram now. We have our own Instagram account. So, I started as well, so we're playing with Instagram. I am lost. I'm going to have to have my kids help me with that. Um, but we're really working to try to get uh more ways to be visible. um not only with our parents and and students to make sure that they they have the information in multiple points because anyone can miss an email um you you can get 100 and some emails a day but sometimes when you're

008on that social media sites you can find those differently. So what we're looking for in the milestones this year um first of all we want to finalize our our cohorts and roles. The other part of it is our counselors are working with the cohorts of grades but the past tradition has been when you have the 11th graders all of a sudden you're in charge of the 11th grade testing. So you have to learn what that test is and you're in charge of the next steps. And so we really want to focus our counselors to be good at one thing. So we're going to kind of specialize their roles. So we have a counselor in charge of oh on the Ohio achievement test. We have a counselor in charge of this the schoolwide SAT. We have

009a counselor in charge of eighth grade orientation to set up the structure because they're good at it and that's where they have we have counselors in charge of the master schedule and kind of working with that. So we have some things in place so that we have counselors who are good at it and then to build some cross trainining. We have a support role as well. So we met with the counselors, we identified what you're good at, what you want to learn about and then kind of have that cross trainining set up. So the other one we're looking to really utilize more this year is a program that we purchased called school links as a central hub as well. It's a career-based program where it it obviously it sends transcripts out to colleges, but it

010does so much more in terms of a communication tool, an online scheduler. Um, and we did course scheduling this last year in it. So, we want to work with that. Um, that's that dashboard that we want to work with tracking. So, we're going to have that school linking site linked publicly. We want to get our parents involved in schoolings. We want to get our kids involved. And that's the go-to for counseling. They can even schedule meetings on there and message their counseling. So we want to kind of have that centralized hub for that. Um students take career based inventories all of that on that as well. And then finally the last one is we want to carry all these these initiatives and all these traits across all of our all of our areas and department.

011So we want to embed the portrait of a Riverside beaver traits into our counseling practice to make sure that our counselors are working to develop our children as well with all those all those kids. So what are we looking for? I'm sorry that's the wrong slide. So what are we looking for? We're looking at these counselor le meetings as well as um gathering feedback so we move this forward. So that's the R relationships. The I and the rise framework is integration. How does this work across our systems? This is really that that integration of seamlessly conduct guidance services. The first is it's a simple logistics issue. We can't do it this year, but we're looking to find a centralized counseling space where all five of our guidance counselors are located in the same place so

012they can touch base with one another. We know that people work better when they're working in teams um and they can divide the space up. So, we're looking at doing some things with the office spaces to make sure that all five guidance counselors and the administrative assistant are in the exact same spot of the building. We have kind of a centralized counseling hub and there's no longer there's a John R counselor and then there's the fourth and we need to kind of put them together so they can truly collaborate and work together. Like I mentioned that school links data dashboard for the tracking along the way and making sure we have people on there. Um, and then also the portrait of a beaver. One of the milestones that they really want to improve upon that

013is a it was a great opportunity when we started it, but it does need a little refresh is our academic letter night. Our students letter for academics, but we really want to refresh that and make that a lot better. Um, as well as looking at our career programming options. Um, starting in eighth grade, getting kids on the right path, letting them know what their options are so when they get to that junior year or their actually it's the middle of their sophomore year when they have to decide what path I'm taking. They have some they've dabbled in that. they have some experience and they kind of know what they want. Um, and that's really a a big thing. So, what does a career day planning look like? What does it mean to go into HVAC?

014What does my job look like? What does it mean to go into um horiculture? What does my job what are my career opportunities for that? What what does Cisco mean and what can I do with with that and kind of what does a day look a typical day look like um for something like that? If I want to go to college, what is what does a typical college course look like and the and the rigor that's assessed with that. So, those are a lot of the things that we're working with in our career day and our expanded career programming um that we've started now with the career electives, but then also rolling into more of a 10th grade career day where we get kids in cohorts on a bus to go to different businesses in

015the county um in those high demand jobs and then steer them into the career electives that are with there as well as um a ninth grade career exploration kind of how I learn day and even an eighth grade day. So, kind of different career activ events um starting in sixth grade with our career elective class that's at LMU, but then all the way up we continue with that and we even want to roll career programming down um to second grade with a touch a truck type events um with those careers and then one in fifth grade as well. So, we're really looking to expand that career programming so our students know and that they graduate prepared. S in rise is support. Obviously, we need the guidance counselors provide that support. We want to provide that

016robust academical academic and social emotional support for every single student. Um our students come when they're coming with baggage. We want to make sure that our guidance counselors have the tools to work with that baggage. Um and make sure that they feel safe to learn and that's the biggest part of it. Um the ongoing structures to help with that because everyone comes with a different we don't know what what struggles they're bringing. We want to we want to establish weekly guidance teams meetings. This is a lowhanging fruit. Um they used to have like a PLC time which is about 20 minutes I believe. Mr. Hall 20 to 30 minutes once a week. They need more time than that. They said that. So, we're carving out time in their day where they're going to have an

017uninterrupted meeting um at that point during where they sit down and meet as a team. Myself, Mr. Hall, the unit principles will also stop in and take part of those as needed um to make sure that we they're on the right track and we answer questions that they have and they're not just, you know, asking wondering. We don't want the wonders. We want action in those meetings. Um by annual data reviews. So, we're looking at things like graduation rate, who's on track for graduation, graduation plan completion, where we're at, um, event participation, scheduling, software, and school links, um, parent and student feedback. We hear it. Um, we want to continue to hear that feedback and kind of hear the positives um, from that feedback, and then eventually the middle school collaboration meetings. So, what's the

018impact of that? We want to we want we're serviceoriented. We are a service business. We want to adjust service as needed. If we're starting to hear more and more students as we meet with them want a certain path, if they want automotive and Auburn's full, well then we need to go out and find another route for them like we did for welding with the welding lab. Um if they're if we're seeing a high need for our students who want to do this and the high need career, we it's our responsibility to make sure we work with those agencies to make sure we can get those students in the trades that they need. And then targeted support based on student needs and feedback. Where where where do we see our student needs are? What are the

019struggles? Um, what are the struggles our families are having? As a as a parent of a sophomore, junior, and senior, you're you're going through and you're navigating a lot of questions and yes, you can go to a night to answer your questions, but you don't know what you don't know. So, part of it really is answering some of those questions ahead of time to make sure, hey, these are the questions you might have. This is what it looks like for college applications. These are what college are looking for now. It's a lot different than it was uh pre-COVID. Um, we have a lot of schools that are test optional. What does test optional mean? what happens when you submit your SAT scores versus not and why would you want to? So those type of questions

020as well as our career fields. What are our students graduating with? Um and what careers can they go and attend and make a decent living and also the options like like our medical or like our medical program where they can go work for university hospitals and university will pay for their secondary school and work with them and those options that are out there for them to get that training because it's a high need field. So really kind of steering kids in in that direction as well. And then the E in rise is excellence. U and that's something we d I mean that's our that's our mission is educating excellence. So everything we do is about that. So delivering a uniform high quality guidance experience and continuously improve based on results. Every student regardless of what

021counselor they have should get the same experience and the same high quality experience of counseling careerbased decisions and what that looks like. So looking at again monitoring those dashboards making sure that we have that kind of equal opportunities across the board. Um we do we are required to do some post-secondary outcome studies by the state. It comes back in as you report on their report card. Those are very challenging still to get students to fill that out because they're all voluntary. But having those relationships and establishing those relationships early with their counselors who then who then can send that out and say please do this for me. It's it's meaningful. We s we see to get more more feedback and not just coming from a generic, you know, at Riverside, you know, Riverside staff or

022we need this from Riverside. It can be from, you know, from Mr. bailis and you know and I know Mr. Bis he helped me get to where I am here Mr. Bis I'm going to fill a survey out for you please this is important to me um so I know where you're at so that's that's a part of is that personal relationship um yeah >> on the launch the multi-grade progress monitoring dashboards who will be able to see the dashboard >> that's an internal dashboard >> and who sees that >> uh that would be myself Mr. hall or counselors um curriculum department those who have school links access accounts. >> Okay. >> So it's it's a it's an internal where we see on that website. We can do some summary kind of as we get

023to progressing what that looks like. Um but it gives like percentage of how many students fill out the FAFSA, how many students applied for college, how many students are going to trade school. So we can see that as well. We do have to report some of that to the state so the state sees it and puts it in our college and career readiness uh portion of the report card. But that is all again deidentified. So we we look at it we can see it to the students. Um obviously looking at the impact report and set um goals in the future. So after we get this plan we want to look at what are the next steps and continuing to evolve. Um and then we want to celebrate successes as we move forward and as we

024change. How do we celebrate those successes moving along? We're going to talk a lot this year about you know celebrating the little wins along the way because it's really important not just to try to get there. Chasing excellence is hard. You got to celebrate those little wins as you get through them. So really kind of working for that and making sure we notify that. So what do we look like? So we're looking at onboarding protocols for new counselors. Some of our counselors are getting close to retirement and they are hard to replace. So we want to make sure we have a plan set in so when we have a new counselor come on board it's turnkey and they're ready to go. Um so what does that look like and not just kind of drinking from

025a fire hose even though they will still feel like that but to give them the mentor to give them some of those those those strategies and plans ahead of time and kind of a checklist that say this is what you're in charge of. this is how you're moving forward. Um sharing this unified student experience check with them. What do we expect from everybody? What does every counselor do? Where are their meetings? When are their graduation meetings happen and not and how do they communicate with families? What are the methods that they use? What what do they send out in the fall? What do they send out in the spring and along the way kind of at the end of the month um and host a guidance appreciation and community impact event. what that means yet.

026That's still to be determined, but how do we kind of celebrate all the work that they're doing and our great council that they do um as as part of it and I think that's uh that that's the last part of it once we get through this. So, >> is there um any collaboration with Signature since they have >> So, our guidance counselors do work a little bit with Signature. They make the referrals. Once they make the referrals to Signature Health, Signature Health is its own is its own person. They then work with the students um from that part. So that that's a different kind of aspect, but they identify the students who need it and then the parents and contact the parent with the signature because the parents have to sign off on the services.

027>> Okay. >> From signature help. The only exception for that would be like a threat assessment where the student is is having some self harm signature comes in and they're part of our our threat assessment team. So they they will be part of it. But then the follow-up signature has to have the parent signature to come fill out and follow up with that. >> Okay. And do we ever get any interns um you know like practicum teachers like >> we have some at times it's a very different most of our interns are sometimes teaching as well so that internship is is a challenge. Um the only internship and right now currently in education that is paid as a school psychologist intern. Um that came from one governor at one time his wife was a school

028psychologist and somehow got it into a budget bill and and it hasn't come out yet. Um, but the rest of them the rest of them are all kind of voluntary. So, they're still working as a teacher and it's a master's degree that they're working. So, they they do it in a plan. Um, but it's not it's it's like any other advanced internship. It's very challenging if you're not um because you're you're you're teaching first and then it's challenging. You get a true experience until you start day one and then it is like firehouse especially in this case. So, I think it's something that we're really took a hard look at how do we re how do we repurpose this department and how do we get them to be experts in some things um but yet

029be student centered and family centered and be a bit of support. >> Okay. >> Thank you. There's um some things on Infinite Campus today like the graduation checklist, things like that. Will they still remain there or will this be transferred over? >> So, I some of that's going to go to school links. The counselors are going to pick through some of that. I think we're working at what we're trying to find our points of truth. And I think that's part of this year is we're looking to see what Infinite Campus can do and what it does well and what it does that's easy for everyone to see. We're looking to see what Schoolings does, what it does well and what's easy for everyone to kind of communicate how we can marry both of those. What

030we know is Infinite Campus will write data to schools, but Schoolings does not write data back to Infinite Campus. Infinite Campus is kind of locked down with that. So it makes some of those things challenging to get that information back into it with the Excel even with the schedules. Schedules are picked on school links but then that file is actually hand uploaded at the end. It's a it's a um Excel spreadsheet that gets hand uploaded at the very end. So when after that upload initial upload occurs any schedule changes that happen our counselors are scheduled in two places both infinite campus and in school links to track it. So some of that is not an ideal setting right now. Infinite Campus says they're going to work to get a little bit better. It's not it's

031it's on their road map, but anyone who's ever done it done anything with a software company knows that road map is really long. So, we don't know when it's going to happen. >> Just figured out how to use it. My son's a junior. So, >> yeah, it's it's a good time. We want to get our families in there even earlier. Um, as early as eventually as early as sixth grade, but for sure eighth grade and get them to that. So, >> Mr. Hall, do you have anything about that or >> Didn't mean to put you on the spot. where where no fine um school links is a a change from Naviance if you have any familiarity with Nviance. So it did every it does everything that Navvian did before. Uh it's just more user friendly

032and has features that are going to help our students and our counselors. Uh we're learning as we go. We had our first development with it last year. Uh it's what we use to do our schedules and set up the master. It worked really well. So um it's a a work in progress just like with any type of change with technology. >> I I think one of the big things we're really looking for school links to work with is local scholarships. We hear a lot about local scholarships and lack of um excitement for some of our local scholarships to go through the scholarship process because a lot of times our students are doing a lot of work um for perceived not not necessarily a lot of return on that scholarship. So school links will help identify

033students in the scholarships they have. It not only does local but it will do national as well. we will try to upload our local scholarships and we're going to work with our scholarship providers to try to get a common app almost and then check on the scholarships they want. So that's part of the the work that's coming out of this plan as well. Um that's going to probably be a couple of years in advance because it is very you have to get all the donors together as well to kind of say this these are the applications that we want. This is kind of what we're going to feed to you. Um and you may get an essay, you may not. you may um this is what your SC this is printed out in your scholarship

034form so you can have that but I think it's a it's a key to kind of increase that participation um to really help us with that. >> Um I know that the um Lake County retired teachers offers a scholarship and every year they're hoping to get somebody from Riverside and nobody applies. You have to be majoring in education. Um, so maybe there's no one majoring in education, but we I guess what you know, if we do have the information, who do we forward it to? >> So, it goes to uh Mr. Bailis. Uh, Scott Bis is our guidance department chair. He will make sure that it's up there. A lot of with those scholarships that are out there, we do have students who we do have students who want to go into education. Sometimes they

035go in a little bit later. They they decide a little later. The other part of it is they're up there and they're a Google form, but it's another Google form along with all of the other ones that are there. and it's a separate and there are a lot of them there and some of our students are just there's fatigue by the end of the time and that's a part of it is they have to print their name keep you know all the little things that are there they can should be able to autogenerate you know those are some of the things we're really trying to help with our with our kids who are >> truly digital natives and then we're we're putting some you know other types of you know bringing them back to the

036days of filling out applications by hand not that this one's a hand application but they have scholarships that are Google forms they have scholarships that are you know PDFs fillable PDFs. They have ones that are print and fill out. They have ones that are micros uh word documents. So they're all in different not only are different formats and different questions, but they're actually different platforms as well. So sometimes that's a challenge to them. So getting kind of all one system in one place is really one. >> Okay. >> One of our goals. >> All right. Thank you. >> That that it >> that is it. The second report I have today is I did ask Mr. McIntyre to show up um tonight to talk about some just some education board of education member training. Um

037so welcome. >> Right. I showed up. So you did. Thank you for inviting me. And um >> I hope if you have any questions along the way, you'll jump in and ask >> and if something I say here tonight doesn't make sense, I hope you'll ask me to explain it further. Um so we're going to cover a fair amount of ground in a short period of time. Um, I know many of you are already very familiar with the many restrictions that apply in the context of political activities by board members or those um seeking election to the school board. So much of this is governed by Ohio statute um but not all of it. um the board policies that you have passed as a school board um in large part reflect the law and then

038also contain some other restrictions and guidance. So, first and foremost, there's a statute in Ohio. It's 3313.78, but basically it says that our premises um shall be made available to any certified candidate for public office and any recognized political party or organization for the purpose of conducting public discussions of public questions and issues. That's the law in Ohio. um our facilities need to be made free of charge to that candidate or that political organization. However, it cannot be used for any political fundraising purpose. So, if there were a candidate for office and they wanted to host a fundraiser on school property, the answer is no. if they wanted to have a candidate night or if they wanted to invite people to talk about a certain issue um then um that would be permitted under this

039statute that's reflected in our board policy 7510. Um, another statute in Ohio that's um comes up from time to time in this situation, not as much uh these days, but uh years ago when I first started practicing, um some county officials, not Lake County, but other county officials would in an employees um paycheck, there were paychecks back in the day, would put in a little flyer saying, "Hey, your elected official boss us is running for office and I'm having a fundraiser and I hope you'll come. Um, that is specifically prohibited by Ohio law. Now, there can be no soliciting of contributions from a public employee while that public um employee is performing their official duties or when they're in and around the work area um where our business is conducted. So, I know that's probably

040not um a relevant issue, but I throw that out just so you have that background. >> So, the question, so if you have an employee uh that is employed, are they allowed to engage in political activity during their work hours? >> So, the answer is generally no to that. And it's pretty much a hard no. Um, we have a board policy that specifically governs that for our administrators, for our professional staff, our teachers, and for our non-eing um workforce. That said, there are a few gray areas. So, for example, if somebody wore a button or a pin saying, you know, vote so and so, is that a political activity? I'm not sure that alone would rise to the level of a political activity. However, maybe a t-shirt covered with vote, vote, vote for somebody. Now,

041I think maybe we've crossed the line into engaging in campaigning on school property as a public employee and that would be a prohibited activity. And these are difficult to enforce because our building leaders have to be on the lookout all the time for that sort of thing. During election season, we see people wearing t-shirts all the time saying, you know, vote some somebody or don't vote for somebody. Um, and we need to be vigilant about that and make sure that's not happening. >> You have someone sending messages while they're being paid um and you know that they are doing it. What would the action be to be taken? >> Well, first and foremost, a cease and desist. That has to stop. And second of all, probably we need to look into that further to see

042how extensive it was um and whether it would be grounds for a disciplinary action involving that employee, which could include termination for a really egregious case. Um the basic principle here is that our resources as a public school district should not be used for for a political purpose. That's a very clear principle that's woven into many laws here in Ohio and into our board policies. Um so um that's just one one common expression of that particular principle. Um policy 75402 gets to this exact question. Um, it says, "Under no circumstances are district created content, apps, services to be used for various purposes, including political lobbying." And so that would be opposing or supporting a candidate for public office um or opposing or promoting an organization that is in the political arena. So um that's one

043way our board policy gets to that policy 9700 also gets to the same question which is which says no materials may be used or circulated in the schools or on the grounds of this district which are deemed to be primarily advertising or political materials. So primarily that's where that pin maybe is going to be okay but that t-shirt will have crossed the line. Um so that's very clear in 9700. What if um a candidate wants to put up signs on school property? Um districts can handle this question um as they choose. Now, under our policies, we've chosen that those political activities can't happen and that signs could not be posted. But from time to time, you will see a public entity that allows that to happen. Um, and as long as it's um content neutral,

044candidate neutral, um they essentially turn their campus or their property or a portion of it into what's called a public forum. they have to treat everybody the same. Now, our policy specifically prohibit that. So, the answer here would be no, we don't we don't permit that. >> Can I have a question on that? So, typically the night before because we do use two schools for >> voting. Typically, the night before all of a sudden all the signs, all these political signs are gathered and they line the entrances going into the property as hey just remember who's on the ballot. Should we remove those? We have not in the past because I I I don't know what the line is there. But I think that's a >> and it's only that and then they may stay

045after the election for a couple days because I'm sure everyone's exhausted by then and don't want to pick them up at that point. But I think that's the >> right. So if we're going to allow that to happen, then you know it should be very limited in the space that where it would be allowed and it should be limited in the amount of time like you say a day or two before uh at a site where there's a polling place. Um it there would be nothing illegal about that. Technically it's a violation though of our current board policy because our policy doesn't make any exceptions for any of that even at a polling place. But you're not alone as a school district because other districts that have their buildings that function as polling places will

046permit that to happen on election day. One, because it's incredibly difficult to police because as soon as you take it down, then somebody comes along and puts one sign back up and then everybody gets upset because that candidate has their sign up and I took mine down and it gets uh it's very difficult. But um um it's a you know it's an important question and I think we just need to be careful about how we do it and um that the rule that you have in place applies to all and typically in the past typically because it's been unevenly enforced. But uh after school's out the day before election day, people go and put signs up around the polling places and that sort of thing. And you have election day and typically people will take

047their signs down and not leave them up for another day or two. But uh and again that's not been evenly enforced. It's been a little bit unevenly enforced or not. But uh I think we might want to have my suggestion would be after school's out the day before people can put up their signs and during election day, but after that they should probably take them with them. >> And Dan, I'm sure 99% of the school districts that's what happens. >> Certainly a large percentage. >> Yeah. >> Okay. The U next statute that's relevant in Ohio is 9.0. 03. This is the statute, you might recall, that the auditor of state relied upon when the auditor issued the guidance that he did on levy campaign related conduct. Um, you'll remember it was a multiple draft process

048where the auditor sort of refined the the guidance, but this was the statute that it was based on. Um, and it basically says that school districts are free as um, political subdivisions of the state of Ohio to spend public dollars on um, informing their community about their activities. Um, it is um, specifically addressed in the statute um, newsletters, email blasts, so on and so forth. However, the same statute goes on to say that none of those activities though should be in support of or opposition to a political issue or a candidate for public office. So, just keep that in mind. The statute also goes on to say that um no person shall directly or indirectly engage in the transaction of public funds um that relates in any way to a benefit for uh a campaign

049committee, a political action committee, a legislative campaign fund, a political party, a campaign fund, a political action committee, all of the various forms of political activity. So none of our monies can go to that particular type of activity. And so the the next question that comes up from time to time is what about a booster group? A booster group that wants to run an ad for a candidate for school board. Um typically um school booster groups are independent organizations. They're organized under Ohio nonprofit law. out there um on file with the Ohio Secretary of State as a nonprofit um corporation. They have bylaws under which they function. They're truly an independent organization. Um and so let's put aside the parent groups that are not independent organizations for a minute because that's a different question. But

050that those that are truly um independent organizations, the Ohio School Boards Association has issued guidance that basically the the booster organization is in charge of itself as an independent corporation and they can sell ads or political ads or not sell political ads. It's entirely up to that organization. However, if that um flyer that uh I don't know program or whatever that booster organization is publishing that contains the political ads is going to be distributed on school property, then we have the right to take a look at whether we would permit that um flyer, that program to be distributed depending, you know, based on its content. You know, our board policies, as I mentioned already, specifically say that we don't allow campaigning on school property. So, is that campaigning? Is it not? Has it crossed the

051line? There are a lot of questions embedded in that. Have we allowed it in the past? Are we currently allowing it? um you know, are they does this organization follow a sort of a non-partisan approach to selling ads or do they only sell ads to one party or the other or one candidate or group of candidates and not the other candidates? You know, those are all the things that we would have to look at when making a decision as to whether to allow that independent booster organization to um to distribute their materials. But if they were distributing their materials independently of the school district, not on school property, perhaps electronically, perhaps at a fundraiser off school property, um then then really we don't have much jurisdiction over that particular activity. Now, as I mentioned, we

052put aside the parent booster groups that are not official independent organizations. So for those groups, they're very likely an extension of the school district, you know, functioning with lots of support from the school district. And under those circumstances, I would not recommend allowing informal parent group to do that sort of thing, depending on how intertwined they are with our organization. But you can go on the Secretary of State's website and you can look up any of your booster groups to see if they are in fact registered nonprofit corporations in the state of Ohio. I do it all the time. I did it earlier today. And you can verify whether they're in fact an independent organization in good standing. In other words, their their certificate of recognition from the Secretary of State is still in existence.

053>> So there's one one small little carry over. Sometimes you'll have an independent organization. Most of the time they'll have their own checking account. Once in a while they'll put their monies into the school district's fund. >> You know, people like Steve and many other uh fiscal and school leaders are would be very concerned about that. we um you know from a legal standpoint um I think that's a hard no um that kind of intermingling of funds. Now, if they're going to raise monies like a parent group, and turn those funds over to the school district, essentially donate them, well, then they're your money, the school district's money at that point. There's nothing wrong with that. But if they're going to want to, you know, sort of use our checking account, our taxpayer ID, um,

054as as if it's theirs, that's that's a no. You know, we one of the things that we require under board policy of our school support organization, including parent booster groups, is that they are in fact independent organizations. They are recognized 501c3 charitable or educational entities under the Internal Revenue Code. They have their own government, self-government um documents in place. Um they have their own taxpayer ID. Um they have their own checking account. um they're um obligated to make their um documents and their books available to us for review because really they function um in service of the school district. And so we we oversee them, but they are really should there should be no co-mingling of their funds with school district funds. Um, so Dian, you mentioned um local officials. Um, you know, like having

055banners and different things on school property that might identify their office. Um, where does that stand because that got a little muddy last time, right? >> I That's why I asked him to show I'm not going >> because I just want to be clear on it because that still exist. I know. And we don't want to go there again. So um the idea that a public official wants to purchase a banner let's say um that is with other banners maybe around the field. Um that is a question that um is a delicate one for sure. Um, if if we have a long-standing practice and if that public official is doing it on a continuing basis, not for example, only when they're running for office and if that banner doesn't say vote, retain any of the

056calls to action that a campaign type of piece of literature would contain. um then I think that it's permissible. That said, we have the right to say no to it. Um however, I think we do have a practice here where we do allow that sort of thing. Again, if you're doing it on a long-standing basis, you do it continuously, not just during campaign season, and you refrain from any of the campaign type language or calls to action. Um >> and and also in the um the football program you see the same thing. There aren't the those words called action as you said but um >> they identify themselves and some are running >> the grid iron program. Yes. >> Yeah. >> So we just want to make sure I guess I'm just asking about consistency

057because that came up two years ago. >> Yeah. So, you know, my understanding of the I think it's officially called the RHS Grid Iron Club. I believe that's their official name. Um, they are a recognized nonprofit company under Ohio law in good standing. And if they choose to sell advertising like that, um, then that that's ultimately their choice. Now, as long as that advertising meets the same standards that we would apply here in the district, then I think it's fine for them to distribute that on school property. If however, they start going outside of what we've talked about and that is identifying a public official doesn't have the calls to action type of campaign language. And even if it if I identifies them as a public office holder, I think that that's fine. Um but

058ultimately it's this board's decision as to whether to allow that type of distribution of literature on school property. Um you know, the board essentially has the right to say we don't want to allow it at all under any circumstance. Now, that would be a departure from I think where we've been, but it is still this board's right to do that. >> So, I guess you said something about at the very beginning about review or something. We have a right to look at the ad. >> We do. >> So, then >> not before. >> Who is that? So, we understand. >> Sure. Of course. So, I I guess I'd like to think it involves me. So typically those requests come in to Dr. Routino is my understanding and then our practice has been that Dr. Routino

059shares that with me and then I offer my you know legal guidance and um you know we make a record of that communication so that we have it for future conversations if needed. I I I don't want to be the keeper of the political decisions. Like I would like to have someone with some legal background. >> Yeah. I I guess >> but I I think don't want to repeat. >> So some of these ads that are put in this program are they could be from from candidates who just say who, you know, wishing all Beavers good luck this year or all all fall athletes the a great season. there just but it's no different than someone who's a parent who's not an a candidate who does the exact same thing. I mean we have fundraising

060and these ads are ways that we we raise you know additional dollars for our program. So drama does it with their play bills as well and they sell they're out selling squares and you know to communities or groups and we say wishing you all good luck you know go break a leg Johnny and and there's that as well. It's just that's not during campaign season. That happens to be the this fall football and and it is football because it's a large gathering of community members that are all in one spot. And I think that's really what some of the questions are. What is permissible and isn't permissible by the policy? And logistically, what can we enforce? I think we've seen um we have seen before trailers show up with candidates names on them that park

061or cars that are wrapped with candidates names and recognition. I mean they're driving their car, but it's a it's a type of vote for sticker. Um candidates with t-shirts on and I don't ever want to ask anyone to remove a shirt during a game. That's I try to avoid that. Um but then candidates passing out literature and all that. We've we've drawn the line that they're but the other ones that are typically I mean short of towing a trailer what >> they're it's problematic at times and we can say we don't you we're going to stick to these rules but that that requires good faith effort by all involved and if not you know I'm sure no one really wants to see their car towed at that time as well because of you know you

062didn't follow our guidelines. And there is a parade of I'm trying to remember the purpose of the parade. >> We have a homecoming parade and we do not let we do not let out that some of the things that we can control are pretty easy for for us to control that the tailgate that's on grounds. We don't let um anyone have you that I know there's been some inquiries about booths for that. We said always say no to anyone with that. That's for school >> or organizations and we kind of run it with that. Um I think it's actually just like you know the so meet the teams night and the games are typically we get a large gathering of parents and it's more unstructured than some of the other ones where we have a

063little bit more control typically. >> Well I mean I certainly agree with you that um you know setting up a booth at a game or just distributing campaign literature at that game is a hard no. I mean, I think and I think that's an easy um uh easy thing to spot. That said, somebody has to be policing it and that's very difficult to do because you you can't have um you know, a whole staff of people sort of roaming around looking for that. But but if it's happening, if it's reported to you that it's happening, then that those individuals have to stop, be told to stop, and if they choose not to, then involve law enforcement and ask them to be removed for not following school rules. Um, you know, wearing of a t-shirt to

064a game, there's nothing you can really do about it. It it it isn't a true public uh forum, but it is a public place in the sense that many members of the community are here and gathered and virtually impossible for us to enforce even if we tried. You know, the uh giant trailer covered in signs. Um for me um that's um closer to active campaigning and that for me should be um something that um the individuals are asked to um to move that vehicle. U that said if somebody has a bumper sticker or a sign that's probably not enough. That's probably more inkin to the wearing of a t-shirt or a button. Um, now if that's happening every day during the workday where it's not a game, you know, where it's just in our parking

065lot, you know, parked in a really um conspicuous location where, you know, then that's easier for us to govern um than at a game where you have a large gathering of members of the community. So many of these things unfortunately have to be decided on a case-byase basis. And um if you see something, please call anytime, text, what have you, and I'll do my best to to respond um as quickly as possible. Um Dan, what about a situation where someone's got a bumper sticker that says, you know, vote for Pedro, and they're It's not Pedro, though. It's uh it's a staff member, and they just drive it to work and drive home. Oh, I see what you mean. >> Yeah, just on the Just on their bumper. >> Just on their bumper, right? >> It's

066not any different than them wearing a pin in the building then. Correct. >> I I think so. Yeah. I mean, you sort of have to try to judge the intent as it were. So, you know, if that bumper sticker happens to be, you know, 2 feet by three feet and it's on the rear windshield and they park right near the entryway where everybody comes in and out, which is not a typical place, let's say, for them to park, then you might say, "It seems like you've crossed the line. You're not just driving around parking in our lot like you would as a regular, you know, like in your regular course of activity." And so for me, I think you would have some right to get involved in that extreme circumstance, but in that routine circumstance,

067they just have a regular bumper sticker and they pull in and they park as they normally do. I It's like the button for me. >> Guess if we see that, we'll send Chris out. >> Yes, that's right. >> I do appreciate them reference though. Don't think that went. That's one of my favorites. Um th those are all the the big issues I was hoping to cover. I'm happy to answer any other specific questions you might >> no longer running for student council president working on my dance. >> Thank you Dan. >> Thank you. And that concludes my reports. Thank you for that and thank you Dan McIntyre. Discussion of old business. Anyone have old business? So, I do um I had a chance to follow up with LLB resources regarding um the approximate $4,500 they've

068invoiced us for and the materials that are covered in those invoices. Um LLB would not provide those materials to us. Um so I would ask here if anybody has things like the communication plan, the email strategy, um any information that's been provided um if they would share that with us. So does anybody have any of that information? Do >> you have any? I >> I do not. >> You have it was my understanding that um information is given to the treasur's office. I don't know if you received it yet, but because of payment or invoices or things like that, but I don't know what you receive. >> To my knowledge, I I personally have received nothing. Um, but also remember that what we don't really receive, we haven't really received an invoice. >> Okay. >>

069We've received I guess it's sort of an invoice, but it's but it's not we haven't physically made a payment. It's coming from the initial retainer of $9,000. >> I see. >> So, there's been no transaction from the treasur's office to them other than the initial $9,000 retainer which was paid previous to me. >> Yeah. Okay, >> that retainer is supposed to cover things that they're preparing, but we haven't seen them. So, but they're deducting it from the retainer and saying that they provided it, but we haven't seen it yet. So, so we can't say please provide us some material um and withhold payment because technically we've already provided payment. So, what recourse do we have in a situation so that we can see the material that has supposedly been um created? >> I um So

070that's to me. >> Thanks for being happy to be here. So you know the the work product, the completed work product of any vendor, my office included, is the property of the district, the board of education as an entity. And so if you want to review that completed work product, then we should do our best to get you that completed work product and share it with you. You have a right to review that. And um I think I've shared that already with all of you. um you know if there are newsletters that are going to go out or that are in the process of being sent out then um you know I think that information should be shared with you on a you know routine basis you know every day no probably not but you

071know every week or two weeks or whatever I think that information can be compiled and shared with the board so you can see it Um, as far as work in progress, that's a different story. I don't think you have the right to see work in progress. Um, it's not completed. It's not actually um something that would um could be easily shared. you know, if you wanted to see a half-written email from my office, I'm not sure that I could produce it or it could make sense or it would be a useful exercise. Um, so, you know, my advice is that, you know, for example, for newsletters, those newsletters can be compiled into a week's worth or two weeks worth of newsletters and shared with the board. Um that could be done by the board president.

072It could be done by Dr. Dr. Townson. Who however we want to do it um I think is um is a is a fair request. >> So for instance, one of the things on a May 4th that designed a communication plan to me that makes me feel like there's a communication plan that's been designed. So it would be nice as a board to see that product um of what was designed so that we can have input or provide feedback on it. Um so I guess I would ask is Mr. Fishell, Dr. Tino or Dr. Thompson following up for those materials that have already been completed. >> Yeah, I would say you can follow up then. >> Would you like to follow up? >> Yeah, >> I I I think >> we'll do that in the

073I have not done that personally. Um but um we we can certainly do that. >> But I think it would be fair uh from what's being said that you ask them for any finished product that has gone out, they can compile that instead of the district having to reach out and grab what has been sent out. U it's simple enough, right? Because it's a piece that goes out to the community. So if if if it's line one or day 1 2 3 4 whatever it might be and you do that every two weeks I think that's fair to ask don't you? >> I do we can do that >> it's finished product because it's already out. >> Well we can keep that in the Friday package for next Friday. >> I mean the idea of

074asking them for what they're doing in preparing for something we're not going to get that. So, can I ask is anyone on the board currently reviewing or approving public facing communications before they're sent or published? >> No, but I have received um some news bits that are very factual. >> But my question is, is anybody reviewing them before they're sent? So, we're blindly letting things go out without this district having any kind of vision or insight onto them or what's going out. >> So, the words are improve important. So, before you said approved, now you're saying reviewing. So, >> I said reviewing or approving. It's right here. >> So, I do communicate uh with LLB resources um to make sure that they're not from what I can see not sending out information that's not correct.

075I mean, it's going to happen and someone points something out like that. It's no different than a newspaper that can be corrected and a and a followup u communication. But I will uh have some communication to make sure that what is planned to go out is accurate. >> So are you seeing it? >> That's mostly purple. >> And are we getting any kind of reports or engagement metrics or anything that'll tell us that this $9,000 that we're spending is um good for the district? I've not seen that. I I would assume that I know we can from our internals check on clicks. Now, there's a we we've had some discussion as to whether clicks and opens are truly actually open depending on where they're read, but I I think our software can do that. So,

076I would assume theirs can as well. But, we can ask that too. when we ask for the plant they have some >> right >> if they can give some metrics as to what to send out and kind of have metrics behind you know where >> because we had some Nick we had some discussion about how many people >> our server yeah >> yeah open you know the communications that are >> yeah and of course the numbers you get are not perfect they're not you know but >> somewhat reliable >> within a range right >> it gives it a number whether that number is 100% correct >> that's what I'm saying It's probably not 100%. >> Yeah. >> So, I think you I think you said with ours they were pretty close to 50% open >>

077over 50, which is that may sound low, but that's actually that's actually really high. If you Google like what's a successful open rate on an email campaign, if you reach over 20 to 25%, that's considered successful. I I would like to go on record as saying that I am adamantly opposed to the fact that we haven't seen a communications plan from the company that is putting this plan together yet. We have emails going out to the public on a daily basis that nobody in the administration is reviewing at all. Nobody sees them. They just go out. We don't know until after the fact whether the data was factual or not factual, whether there's misspellings or not misspellings, whether it's it's just it's unconscionable to me that we're sending out all these emails with the name

078of our district and on top of it that nobody here has even seen it. That was my last question was going to be how are we going to account for the quality because I've seen them go out without headers. I've seen them go out with misspellings um different addresses at the bottom like multiple things and I think doc uh Mr. McIntyre actually provided some additional guidance that needs to be communicated to LLB on what they can and can't do and I need uh I want to understand who will be following up and providing that guidance. Um she came right out and said she wouldn't deal with anybody but you Mr. Fishell. So, if you're saying to the administration that they can deal with her, I think you're going to need to tell her to deal

079with the administration um because she was flat out not going to deal with anybody else. >> So, I don't know if um the administration would be communicating any of that. we've hired a company or a company to do a specific job and they're under contract to take the general information uh from what's at the board table and any other information that might be in the district that they would capture and they're sending that out. So, I'm not so sure they're creating their own information. I think they're taking what we have already done and sending that out. So, um I don't know if there would be there's certainly not an approval process >> that would be included in that. I mean, similarly, we wouldn't go to Cleveland Construction and tell them to come into the administration

080and lay out their plans for laying the block out there before they proceed to get approval. So, we're not going to be doing that. >> I think that's a riskmanagement thing. Anything that comes out with our district, Riverside local schools and our banner on the top of it should have some somebody in our district who has looked at it in the administration before it goes out to the general public from a riskmanagement perspective. I don't care what it is. >> So >> even if it's two sentences, >> Mr. McIntyre, is there a risk to the district um of cop taking the board table and board email communications and basically copying it or rewarding it and sending it out? Is there a risk to the district on that? >> Um I mean I I just look

081at legal risks. I mean whatever non-legal you might be thinking about. I mean, there's there's no legal risk that I can think of. I mean, you know, we don't want inaccurate communications, but um, you know, I, you know, I think if it's going to contain a photo of an adult employee that we should have consent of that individual. I think that makes sense because people are sensitive. They might not like the photo. They might not want a photo of themselves at all. They might want to take a newer. Whatever the case may be, I think we want to respect um the privacy of our people to to a degree that we can. Um you know, as far as student information, you know, if student information was inadvertently disclosed, there would be legal risk in that

082for sure. Um, and we've had some conversations internally about how to protect that from happening. Um, and I don't think there was uh a plan to do that. I'm not suggesting that at all, but we're always concerned about the confidentiality of education records. Um, so um but no, as a sort of a general matter, no. So, our goal is to communicate with the uh people that live in the district uh what we're doing. And so, the more people we reach, the better it is. And um we're moving in that direction. >> So, the number seven in the email, Mr. official. I don't know if you've read it, but it says, "If a website identified or linked in a board communication contains links to independent news articles for visitors to the website to access, I recommend

083that these linked articles not promote a specific political perspective, but rather represent a variety of viewpoints. If the linked articles represent a variety of viewpoints and it is newsy and informative, if the linked articles represent a specific viewpoint only, then it may seem like we are promoting or endorsing that viewpoint and there are arguments on both sides of this issue." This is what I'm talking about that we need to communicate to LLB to make sure that they are not or no longer linking out to specific websites. Um, so this does need to be communicated. >> And who wrote that? >> Mr. McIntyre. There's seven items here you might want to take a look at. >> Dan. So >> yeah. Um so I guess I would say that um and this is not uh a small

084matter. Um so the it's important for you all to know as I put in that email that um my communications are confidential attorney client privilege communications. And so as far as disclosing that type of information, it really requires a majority vote of the board to release that privilege. I don't have the right to release that privilege. Nobody else does except for a majority of you. So I guess I would um be careful to the maximum extent possible um about disclosing you know that kind of information. >> Yeah. So I would just say it's board president that was confidential information that was just put out to the public. It's attorney client privileged information and that should never happen again. >> So my biggest again my biggest concern is that this email list and this email blasting

085that's being done, we have no idea what it's going to say before it's being said. And some of us will get it, some of us will not get it. I certainly don't get it at home. I'm not exactly sure how I'm getting it at my school district email address, but I don't get it at my home email addresses. Um, and we have no idea what it's going to say. It could say anything. and it could be used and then sent for other purposes because they've got this email list that we purportedly paid for and now it could also be used for other purposes. I have so many issues with that. I I just do I I don't know what else to say about that. I have lots of concerns about that. And it could go

086out with our logo at the top. It may go out without our logo at the top. It may be used for other purposes. that may I have no idea what it's being used for and that really really frustrates me. >> Okay. Anything else? >> Okay. Um new business. >> So I do have new business also. Um last month before board meeting I sent out some information um for the board um that reflects on us as a board and how we're impacting not only our staff but our community members. The idea of sending the information to the entire board was for us to have a discussion here. I did not include just for everybody's reference other details of the engagement survey to the board specific one because that's already being addressed by Dr. Ratino and the

087administration. Um they're already working on things to work on some of those engagement items. The ones that I did include are specifically related to the board. So I would like to ask if we could have a discussion on what possibly we as a board can do to improve how we are impacting our district and most results that came in that engagement survey. >> Well, at this time haven't had a chance to u look at the uh survey results in detail. Dr. Tito did provide me with those and I think he did uh put them in the U packet for everybody to look at, but I'm not prepared at this time to >> So, he did send those out previously I think probably a month before. That's how I pulled them. So, you haven't looked at

088them at all? >> I I looked at that one, but he gave me an updated one by building without any um editing. So, it's more raw data and I've just not had a chance to go through it yet. So again, the comments that I sent are specifically board related. So Dr. Ratino is addressing already the other comments that the administration can handle. These are specific about us as a board. So those ones were all pulled out and sent. Did you review those? >> I read them. >> So what can we do as a board? >> So do you have suggestions? I >> I'm asking for you guys to help. As as a matter of fact, I think three names are typically pointed out in many of the comments. So I'm asking for help and a

089collaboration on the board. Well, I suggest you bring ideas to the table that we can discuss. >> So, you're saying you will not collaborate or provide your own ideas? >> I'm not saying that at all. >> Well, you're not providing ideas. I'm asking for ideas yourself. >> Okay. And I suggest that you bring ideas to the table and we can have an open discussion. >> You're not willing to collaborate is what I hear. So, thank you very much. >> Are we able to have a work session to discuss or >> do you want one? >> I don't know if we should have one. I I I did read comments. I I have something in uh new business. I'd like to make a resolution to direct our communications director to email the board of education update

090emails and the emails sent out by LLB resources to the Riverside Local School District uh communication emails. Um can I get a second on that? >> I'm not sure I'm following. >> Uh can I get a second on that? >> I'll second. >> We nor did we amend the agenda. uh you don't have to amend the agenda to make the resolution. >> So, can can we elaborate on that, please? >> Sure. So, we're we want to reach as many people um in our school district as possible. >> Excuse me. I'm asking Dr. Thompson to elaborate on the whether or not we need to amend the agenda to add a resolution for I'm not exactly sure what. Thank you. Robert's rules of order would require that the board put a that the board put a resolution

091to to an do an amendment to the agenda. After that, then the resolution could be put to the board for a vote provided the the board votes in favor of amending the resolution. Then secondly, move forward with said resolution. So then I make a resolution to amend the agenda to make a resolution. Can I get a second? >> All second. >> And uh can you take the role? >> Yes, sir. >> Mr. Fishell. >> Hi. >> Mr. Keaney. >> Hi. >> Miss Brewster. >> Hi. >> Miss Grassy. >> Nay. >> Miss Kensky. Nay. >> Motion carries 32. >> Okay. I make a resolution to direct our communications director to email the board of education update emails and the emails sent out by LLB resources um to the Riverside local school district communication emails. Can I

092get a second? >> Second. >> Thank you. Is there discussion? >> Yes. Can I ask what does that mean exactly? You want him to send it to whom? >> It's the district emails that we have. And so the emails that we're sending out uh trying to reach as many people as we can will reach more people. There will be some duplications of course, but it'll reach more people if we send it out um from from the district's email. >> So you're asking that we now send it from our servers to duplicate what we're sending from the servers. whatever this external server. We're going to send those every single day to our is is I don't even know what to say. >> Nick, can um people unsubscribe from our emails list? Because I've heard people are

093unsubscribing from the ones that are being sent on a daily basis. They have the option to. >> The problem is if they unsubscribe, they will not get any other communication. So if there's a snow day or a emergency and they unsubscribe, they will not get that message. >> Okay. >> Can you take the role, please? >> I I have one more thing to say before we call the role. I I in spirit of collaboration again, this this continued adding things to the agenda at the last minute and amending the agenda just goes beyond what it is that this board is supposed to do to work collaboratively. I have a problem with that. We continue to do this. It's it's not appropriate. Thank you. Before before you uh I will make a comment on unsubscribing. I

094suppose for the purpose of board communication meals we could almost copy the list and if so if they want they want to unsubscribe they can unsubscribe from just that and we would keep the normal parent list. I I if that helps. >> You could you could manage that in internally. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> That's fair enough to do. >> And will we will we copy those word for word? So if we spell if that person spells an individual's name wrong, it's going to go out with our district from our district servers with that individual's name wrong. I want it on record that that's the way I believe they should be sent so that we can look as ridiculous as some of those emails that are being sent on a daily basis. >> So can

095you take the role please? >> Mr. Fishell >> I. >> Mr. Keaney >> I. >> Miss Brewster >> I. >> Miss Graassy >> nay. >> Miss Kensky >> nay. >> Motion carries 32. >> Okay. Okay, we have buildings and grounds operations committee uh superintendent business advisory which is not yet started up. When will we start that? >> Uh we are looking early September. The probably the invitations are going out tomorrow. I'm trying to get it on my list. >> The usual suspects. >> Usual suspects. Yep. We are going to use >> Do you think there will be any additional um people companies that might be represented or want to be or has anyone said anything yet? >> We've not had anyone say. We have some companies who we've invited and they have not been able

096to make it as of last year, but we will invite them again. >> Okay. >> See if they can make it this year. >> I mean, obviously, we'd like to expand it a little bit if we could. >> We could. Yes, we can. >> Okay. >> The room's pretty full. >> Well, yeah. For example, there's that one um new place on Kryle. Um uh was it the crearyy or something? But he employs a lot of students >> and I don't know if he's been invited, but >> he has not yet. >> Okay. But that might be something. >> Yeah, that's the cremary and car wash, right? >> Yeah. >> But yeah, he's a orthopedic doctor and he definitely makes an effort to employ students. >> Yeah, it might be a good one. >> If he

097wants to and has the time to do it. >> Okay. So, we had a buildings and grounds meeting uh on Tuesday and um we at Riverview had an electrical transformer that failed. Uh new transformer was installed the same day and a big thanks to Cleveland Construction, Rage Electric and Paysville Power for their efforts. It was teamwork and they got it all done. Without that, it would would have taken a lot longer, maybe several days. Okay. So CCI had helped with the primary and secondary disconnect and reconnect and and along with Rage Electric and then Bainesville Power also helped out. The Lamuth gym floor reinstallation is complete. So I guess we had a few issues and they took care of it. >> They they completely tore out the floor and put a new one down. >>

098That's a big deal. >> Okay. >> So all right. So that's complete. Asphalt patching and seal coating of all the parking lots minus the campus completed by Vasco. Line striping completed at all lots by VBL striping. And it's all completed and ready for school and it's looking pretty good. Maintenance installed the new mini split in the board conference room and that is working well. Um people can hear each other talk now. >> It's nice. They didn't. Yeah, they did a great job. >> So, that's good. Um, summer cleaning is wrapping up. Of course, Bridg's team always does a great job. And, um, again, this year they've done a great job. Nutrition potential potentially funding electrical upgrade for John R and Riverside High School in anti anticipation of air conditioning. Mrs. Gford, who's the head of

099that department, um, explained to Dr. Ratino that uh she offered to spend down the nutrition balance which I think she was going to be required to do by law >> required to spend it down. We're looking for ways for her to help with some of that and make her employees more comfortable. Um and that would be one that would do that. Any type of air conditioning that we would add would require electrical upgrades and we are seeing if it is permissible by federal guidelines. Um we hope that it is >> and and the the uh air conditioning would be going where? So, um, we are targeting right now the kitchens of John R and Riverside with the ability to expand hopefully to the cafeteria as well. That would be obviously be board funded. Um, but

100then also Luth as well to look at what we would need to do there. And then the two legacy elementaryaries that are not air conditioned would be Melidge. Mel Ridge is the cafeteria or the gymnar I guess is what it is is air conditioned but the kitchen is not. Um, and then Buckeye as well. So, we'd be looking over a couple years spent on plan to see if we can provide our our kitchen staff um and those kitchens get really hot. >> Oh, yeah. That'd be a very big benefit. >> It would be a benefit and if we have the opportunity to expand um that would be beneficial for the district as well. So, we're looking into those opporting that anyway. So, we cannot use the money to air condition the cafeteria, but we can

101use it to air condition the kitchen spaces where the kitchen staff works um under a guide of of safety and employment. >> Well, thank you for that. Um the Buckeye trailers were demoed and are now gone. There is one remaining unit that Interstate uh towing is going to be looking at that to see what the cost would be to move it to our maintenance property, the old Concord school and the CTE update project moving along. CCI Cleveland Construction is wrapping up interior of the cafeteria, the high school kitchen, commons and beastro this week in the anticipation of the start of school. Riverview project moving forward. Uh Cleveland Construction working on wrapping up interior work of the new stairwell and exterior door for the start of school. And that's all I have for buildings and grounds.

102Uh curriculum. >> Okay. Uh curriculum met today, this morning at 7:30. Um and um Lori was also there. Um uh one of the things I wanted to report on was a new honors art proposal and um it would um involve CCP credit college credit plus uh so the students >> not not this year >> not this year it's going towards that moving towards >> but in the meantime they could get additional >> earned earned honors so it's an earn of waiting >> okay all right so um but are we collaborating with LEC like >> we But that is not that is not in the works for this year. >> Right. All right. But this uh helps um retain some of our art students because um you know they have a lot of choices but they're

103also looking you know for that extra bump um in in credit. And so um I think it's a great opportunity um for them and uh there was a lot um shared about it and growing the program. So I think it'll be wellreceived because we have a lot of art students. Uh we also have opening day uh for um staff uh which is going to be on Monday. So all staff whether it's teaching classified um who you know everybody that works for Riverside um will meet on Monday as a group and then um there will be different professional developments going on. Um specifically for classified uh Mallalerie will be conducting a uh have someone conduct a customer service training and um so that's something that they're putting in new this year. Uh and then um uh

104there will be specific trainings on Tuesday because we have some new curriculum and so um you know just continuing our training with witten wisdom um um branching minds CBI training uh different ones this gives them an opportunity to have some training some additional training before they start teaching and all of the materials were available to staff and had prior training um over the summer. All right. And then on Wednesday, there will be building meetings. So, time for them to do um required um online uh trainings that they have to do, but also to work in their buildings. And then um one thing that's coming up is um the opportunity through our tech director uh he recommended that we um participate in Google Plus. Um Mr. Renwick um said that this um actually gives them more

105controls over um you know students using the platforms and um it also is going to provide um the with the pricing model and everything. It would be a three-year license at a reduced price and um and it would also uh be beneficial with our um personalized learning and things like that. um there's limitations in the current platform that we have. So, it sounded really good. And then um there is um some special ed staffing that still needs to take place. For the most part, it's been a tremendous job. You'll see a lot of approvals tonight. Uh but um I did see a posting by U. Mallerie again today. Uh there's still some areas that uh pair of professionals that we need to hire. still looking for a school psychologist and um and working through that.

106And then tonight um uh you'll see with the curriculum um approvals um there will be uh the approvals of all the handbooks for this um specific buildings including preschool and um I think you're going to talk about the only real change for most of it is cell phone policy. >> That's that's the only real change is our cell phone policy adopted >> and you you'll cover that. I I did not have it planned, but it's we we have sent it out to parents. >> Yeah, it's been sent out and um you know, there are some exemptions like if there's a medical or an ELELL, English language learner translation requirement um or some academic per purpose or for example when art students are taking pictures of their projects, it's better on their phone than other ways.

107But, you know, during instructional time, the academic day that there would be no cell phone use. And then, um, our next meeting is going to be September 24th at 7:30, uh, for curriculum and programs. And then, um, I'm also on the strategic plan um, committee. And, uh, we're going to, um, basically, you know, take a look at that. It's in its fourth year, we think. um usually is it about every five years you start to review that. So we'll we'll start those discussions and also um our major uh focus is the implementation of pathways to excellence um and and implementing that across the board. So and you've reviewed that for our our um at our board meeting. So So that's all I have for curriculum and program. >> Thank you so much for that. And

108we have uh policy and alumni. >> Um Dr. Tino just informed me that we just received a load of new policy from Neiola. So we'll be setting up a policy meeting to go over that. First read it'll probably be on the next board meeting. >> Yes. >> Great. Um alumni association. Um they met on Monday the 12th. Unfortunately, I was not in town to attend, but the main topics that day um were the Hall of Fame dinner and awards banquet that'll be coming up on October 11th. Um and they're also planning to attend the tailgate party on October 29th. Um you can find all that information on the alumni. >> Oh, August 29th. >> Oh, I think October. >> Oh, August 29th. Sorry. >> Okay. August. >> Yeah, August. So, um, any information you want

109about the alumni association though, you can go out to their website and, um, link and find out, um, what they're working on. >> Thank you for that. Uh, booster, >> uh, just two things. We have a RPTA meeting that is tentatively scheduled for sometime in September. That has not been firmed up yet. And then I sent out an email to the athletic boosters and other booster groups and asked for some information regarding perhaps getting a group together similar to our PTA. It would be helpful. Um, nobody has responded to that email yet, so hopefully we can maybe spearhead something like that. So it it would be helpful. >> We've had some conversations. >> Yeah, that's all I have. >> Thank you for that. and we have the superintendent report. >> Okay. Lot going on um

110in middle of August as we're getting ready for school. Uh Riverview construction update. They are moving along there. I believe they are set to actually put steel up uh towards the beginning of school. So they're they're actually running into the conference of what day they're going to use the crane to crane steel up. We I asked maybe not the first day of school, wait till the second day. Um, but I think that we're looking next week to start putting putting structural steel up at Riverview. They are actually putting structural steel up at the beginning next week at the high school. So, it will be right before students come at CTE. Uh, they're making progress every day. They have turned over they will be turning over the cafeteria commons as and wood shop storage to us.

111Uh, so we have access to that for the start of school. So they said Monday, maybe Tuesday, u they're actually bringing cleaners in to clean it up for us as well. So we'll have that. We'll have accessibility to that as well of work. They're working out with what what it looks like when we have students here and student parking and parent parking and school buses and all that in the morning and where they can park versus where our teachers park and staff park and all that. So, we we've been navigating through some of that with CCI um as well as we walk through the spaces today and it's it's going to be really exciting about about some of those things and kind of working as to what the what the future entails for this this

112type of program. So, really excited about that. Uh did hold a Riverside leadership retreat on August 5th. We met we do this is the third year we've done this. All of our district directors and administrators met this year. We did it at the AWT center in Menor. um we we have a lot of turn or a lot of new administrators to the team. So we looked at behavior styles or leadership styles um and how different leadership styles work together um and and how different emails might look with people under different leadership styles and what they need when they're asking you a question. So we did a lot of work with that. Um and then we did look at that uh climate survey um and kind of taking results and putting in your leadership style and

113how it may have impacted those results and what you can do uh differently perhaps to kind of improve some of the results or what those results are really saying. So we did a lot of um kind of some communications about that kind of what this might be and some things we can do. So it was a great day really a lot of good that came out of it and we are still kind of continuing to build on our leadership style. We are going to do a winter one this year for the first time. Um and in that one, the second part of behavior styles is you give the survey to people around you um and they judge your leadership style. So you give it to um those above you, the your subordinates. I I parttook

114in this and gave it to my wife. Um that one didn't come back so good. So I don't know if I'll give it to her this year um as well, but she said I'm a little bit different than I am at home than I am at school. Um but it really kind of came back and it's really it's really informative as well as to how you see how you lead. So, it's a it was a great great day um for all of our leaders and we've got a new picture to hang up of all our of our district leaders as well. Uh new teacher orientation was August 8th. Like I said, these these weeks are really busy for us. We we welcomed all new teachers and administrators to the district um for a for an

115orientation as well as the infamous bus tour that Mr. Caribine uh leads uh well way more famous than the Rodeo Drive one with his dad jokes and all that. Uh Dr. Thompson did attend that this year and he he had nothing but five stars, five star Yel review from him. So really now >> um along the way of orientations, open houses and supply drop offs, now's the time. U if you walked through the halls of Halls of Holly, you or you would have seen Halls of I you would have seen the eighth grade orientation that goes on tonight. Started at 5:30. That's the afternoon. We did a morning session as well. also had our eighth graders in getting their schedules, walking their schedules and and you typically hear the same thing from all of them

116as they're in the building. Wow, it's really big. And then the second one is, "How do I go from this end of John R to Spanish over at Riverside in five minutes?" Put your walking feet on and start moving fast. Those are two things we hear every year. Um I heard it again today. It's kind you'll figure it out. It'll be fine. Uh the nice thing about that is the construction wall was down so that we didn't have any eighth graders run into it as they were walking trying to figure out where they were going. So they took it down just in time so they missed it. Uh Monday, August 18th is the fifth grade orientation open house. Mmouth does theirs on three nights uh because of just a parking issue with them. So they

117kind of have to spread out. So new fifth graders um are on the Monday the 18th. New sixth and seventh graders. So students who are new are new to Lemu are on the 19th. This will be a little smaller this year because it's just the new students and a third of them have been there for a year. Buckeye and Mel Ridge students. And then the ninth, the returning sixth and seventh graders have just a supply drop off at an open house that night. Um the 20th is the kindergarten orientation where our board of education members will be the different schools handing out t-shirts to the class of is it 30 >> 2038 >> 38 2038 this year. Um also on that Wednesday is the elementary supply drop off and open house and then on the

11828th of August is Riverides the campus open house. We're getting closer. Um, it's really exciting today. Today, if when you drove in, you noticed um one of the things Mr. Hall did as an initiative that was proposed to him and we brought it through buildings and grounds was allow our seniors to paint parking spaces. They're so cool. Um they they they're pretty awesome out there. So, out there putting some designs in those parking spaces, it looks really neat. Um and they were really happy and excited to do that. The only one who's really disappointed about it all is Dr. Locker because she can't paint hers yet. So, this is her last year. we might let it happen. But yeah, let's just find a group to do it. So, but that's that's that. And the band

119uh they're in the middle of band camp. We got to hear the band and kind of see them marching and preparing their show after four days. They're running through a whole song. It's amazing what they do and how they work with that group theme spirit day or something to that aspect. So, they're in different funny hats and all that. But, it's a it's a our band is amazing. I can't wait to see the final show which is at Meet the Teams tonight, which is out. Before that, uh we'll talk about Kinder Camp a little bit. Kinder Camp is something we are starting this year. It's a new concept for our kindergarteners. We are super excited to launch this and and thanks to the kindergarten team and all who are involved in this. The concept of

120kinder camp really is between the 25th and the 27th we bring all our new kindergarters together and we do whole group activities with them and we we we learn their personalities and we get to know them a little bit before we put them into class um in into different home rooms. In every other situation, we know the students real well. We put them in home rooms ahead of time, but in kindergarten, just a blind draw. This kind of avoids some of that blind draw. We get to know them. And then on the 27th where we'll reveal that celebration, so the kids will get a a colored something and they get to run or skip at Riverview to their classrooms um to get there so they get to join their their their classrooms and their peers.

121We're really excited about that. And then on the 28th and the 29th, we still do our half day splits of our kindergarten classes so that they get used to kind of some of the procedures with that teacher, get to know that teacher, and then on September 2nd, all students report. So, it's a there's going to be some growing pains this year. We know that, but we're really excited about trying something new and trying way best for our kids to make sure that they learn as best as they possibly can. So, we are really excited about that opportunity um that we have this year. >> Can I ask a question? So, does that mean that when we do kinder kindergarten orientations or whatever, then the teacher passes, they won't have home rooms assigned yet? >> They

122will not, but they will still probably check out the classrooms. >> Okay. >> Um, >> it will probably run very similar to how it has in the past. >> Okay. >> They'll probably talk a lot about kinder camp. >> Yeah. >> And then there will be a part where the kids still at least go into a class, >> a kindergarten classroom, and most of them are pretty much the same. I want to welcome our two school our two new school resource officers to Riverside this year. Matthew Arer Arco and Taylor Techik are working uh with us this year. Deputy Fitzgerald was he's a um deputy or a detective now. So he was promoted last year and then Deputy Gerick actually left the force and is joining the military again. So, we we have two new

123ones with our partnership, thanks to our partnership with the sheriff's department to provide these. Um, they are just great individuals. I'm excited about being on campus and getting to know the students and getting involved as well as all of our rest. These are our two at the campus as well. And some upcoming community events as we mentioned a little bit earlier. Uh, meet the teams night is the 20th of August 20th. Let's meet all of our fall sports teams as well as our marching band will do their show for the first time for a public um performance. And then the community tailgate party is August 29th. There is a new location for that. It is actually on the side practice field on the side of the school because of the construction in the back. So

124we moved it over to um the field that we dubbed the band practice field that's at the side of the board office. It will be over there. There are going to have food trucks this year instead of a grill and some other changes. So, we're excited about to continue that tradition. Just so it's a little bit different as we're under construction. Um, with that as well, homecoming parade and community pep rally is Thursday, october 2nd. That's a great time to walk our sports our local sports events um our youth sports clubs join in and walk the parade as well as our band marches and some of our other teams um on there. And then that concludes my report. to exciting times as teachers return on Monday and students come back Thursday. >> Thank you for

125that. Finance audit personnel. Um we held our meeting on August 7th. The U personnel positions are being finalized for the new school year. The the job fair was successful and candidates are going through the process for placements. Additional proc uh job postings are being added as necessary. Uh board agenda discussions included budget forecasting requirements, the upcoming state uh mandated cell phone restrictions during the school day, and AI use policies will be forthcoming later this year for implementation next school year. Flexibility has been given to superintendent and teacher assignments without regard for seniority. Career technical education will be required for students in seventh and eighth grades starting in the 2627th school year. Donations will be accepted for uh new Lamuth cafeteria furniture. Uh Riverside athletics and high school construction program. Uh grant acceptance. The Ohio Department

126of Education has distributed several grants to the district in excess of $1.5 million. And that concludes my report. update from the treasurer. >> Well, isn't this is the exciting part, right? We get to move on from all this boring stuff to what you guys are really all here for. I'm certain to hear the financial update. But I do want to start by just saying um uh how grateful and honored I am to join the district. This is my uh first board meeting and uh I I am com committed to serving all the boards, serving the administration and serving the community and trying to do it in a very fiscally responsible and transparent way. So that is what what I will uh certainly always keep at the forefront of what I'm doing. I'm trying to uh

127make the reports digestible so that u they mean something to people. Um, so I'm just going to start with uh just a couple of highlights and I'll go fairly quickly but uh hopefully not too quickly that so some of the general fund observations coming in new um the total reconciled cash balance this is through the end of July 31st uh is $39,956,000 and that is a there is absolutely no variance between the bank and our book balances. So that's hats off to Gary and um and the staff uh for uh doing such a great job uh with the books. Uh the general fund ended the month with a balance of $24 million that and that's almost uh half of our total uh budget. That's a healthy cast position to be in at this point. If

128you take a look at five-year forecasts around the state, you'll find that we're in a much healthier position than most. With that being said, we are in deficit spending, however, and that needs to be at the forefront of our decision-m as we move forward. Uh so, uh the 25 to 26, there's a variance there. Uh the general revenue decreased by about $1.89 million. That's due to lower property tax collections. That doesn't mean your taxes were reduced. It means some people didn't pay their taxes um very often. Um some of it is just timing of when they come in. Also, expenditures increased by 621,000. Uh that's to be expected. That's from higher personnel services and purchase services uh which are just part of doing business. So revenue, the year-to- date revenues are at 8.5 million with

129property tax collections representing the largest sum. The majority of the funding for uh Riverside local schools comes from local property taxes and that varies from community to community. Some are more state reliant, some are more community-based reliant and in this particular community it's primarily property taxes. Um some of the other notable revenues included uh 638,000 from state foundation payments and 109 from other resources. In terms of expenditures uh the expenditures totaled 4 almost 4.5 million the largest expense being personnel services 2.4 million and employee benefits. Again, we produce we don't produce a product. And about 82 83% of our budget is people that we are a service industry. And so you'll see that pretty consistently across all school districts. Um our investment funds continue to do well. We have about 37 million and sitting in

130u our various investment accounts. Uh they're yielding on average about 4.21%. Uh that's still really strong. Star Ohio represents about 67% of our portfolio. Redeeree has uh pretty much the remaining balance of those funds. Um and you can see where we primarily make those investments and they're all very safe um funds that are still yielding a pretty nice return. And then in terms of uh there's always a lot of questions about permanent improvement funds. Uh there are 7.5 there in the fund is 7.9 million but 7.5 almost 7.6 of those dollars are encumbered meaning we have about $319,000 unencumbered heading into this year. Uh we will receive two additional settlement payments. Um and they'll be a roughly about 2.2 million. We'll start we'll get that in August approximately half of that dollar amount roughly. And

131then in March we'll get a final settlement to take us to 2.7 million which is what our PI money generates. we invest that and we usually uh capitalize on a few hundred thousand historically from that um from that uh those investments. So that's uh that's where we kind of stand financially. Um, we did I just wanted to go just very briefly over uh this is you would think this isn't intuitive that this would be in the budget bill, but it is in the budget bill. Lots of things get put in the budget bill that have absolutely nothing to do with directly with funding of schools. Um, but some of them actually, again, counterintuitive, they they do potentially impact uh finances. So, I tried to fair it out the ones that I thought could impact us

132either positively or negatively from a financial perspective. Um, cell phone policy, you all know cell phone policies. I think at this point the the the um administration's done a really good job of making sure that um we're communicating that effectively to parents. Uh basically what the cell phone policy in a nutshell says is that you kids cannot um use their cell phones at all during the school day. Now there are some exceptions but uh that's what it's about. So how will that impact finances? It could. It just depends on how far the district wants to go. uh religious um instruction release time is now uh required statutoily uh through uh the budget bill. Uh so just to give you a little bit of an example of what that means is must allow at least one

133period per week for religious instruction. Uh limit two periods per week for KA two high school credits per week. I I'm assuming they mean credits. I I assume they mean um a class. That's my interpretation of that, although that could be wrong. Um and students may bring external materials. So they could bring a Bible or a Quran or what whatever in with them in support of whatever their religious beliefs are. Sorry. Whoops. uh advanced standing and math programs and uh not just math programs but CTE programs as well. So those programs now will some of them and very specifically Dr. uh Malakar is going to be in charge of that along with the superintendent. It's not the treasurer's job. So I'm very glad to report that but determining how we're going to weight those classes

134is going to be a challenge but it is part of the law. Um, and then if students score advanced on the state standardized tests, they have to be advanced at grade level. So that's going to be very interesting to see how that happens. What happens if you're a fourth grader, you advance or or you're a third grader, you advance to fifth grade, do you go to Lemu? How >> we we are waiting for um some more uh clarification from the state. I think it's it's an imperfect bill. We understand what they want by it, but it it looks different at different rates. So, we are definitely looking for some some cleanup on it, and I fully expect there to be some cleanup before before this takes place. It >> it's very challenging, but it could

135it could impact staffing levels. It could impact transportation. So, there's definitely dollars connected to um potentially connected uh to this uh RISA, which is your resident educator program, that's been eliminated. That's probably one that should save dollars versus cost dollars. Um although um that if for those of you that aren't familiar with that, that's your generally your new teacher support program is what it is. It's typically been pretty successful. Um but it's been eliminated statutoily. Uh adult and career um technical education that's already been touched on by Mr. bikini moving that into the elementary or into the middle schools which um what exactly that means I don't know how that's going to impact uh students and finances in a school day it's unclear to me but >> we currently offer the program we are then

136Riverside's ahead of the game for Riverside it's you innovative superintendent we have that's what it is >> there when I got here today >> Oh good I'm glad you hear it um financial reporting has changed a lot and this is um significantly impacting the finance department. So typically a fiscal year ends on June 30th. We close the books out shortly thereafter. Then um you do final appropriations to the board. Appropriations are your budget. They see that in October. And then in November there's a 5-year forecast update. Well, that's all changed. So, we will now um have to do not this year, this year it'll be October 15th, but after this year on August 31st, we'll have to have a 5-year forecast done by August 31st. Um and then again in February 28th. It would normally

137have been in May and now it's going to be in February. Um there is a provision that does not allow your administrative costs to exceed 15% of the district's operating budget. Uh Riverside local school district is at 7.4% right now. Uh it repeal a repeal of school district income tax on estates effective 2026. Uh if you have a school income tax that obviously can have a financial implication and stricter rules on property tax compliance and filing. So again, that has a dollar amount fixed to it. So one of the immediate changes our staff are going to have to adjust to is a very hard line on October 1 or excuse me, June 1st. They cannot we cannot process purchase orders past that. So, you're they're really going to have to be thoughtful in planning about

138your summer expenditures because we will not process a purchase order past June 1st because we have to close, do appropriations, and five-year forecast all during the summer. We're going to spend some time making sure we're talking to the staff, training the staff, um, and getting them prepared for that reality. We won't just throw it on. Um, and then not to get too specific about school finance, but there's this thing called inside millillage. School districts do have, boards have legal control over some of uh, well, what all of it quite frankly could be shifted to general fund. There are things that can be done. Um, inside Millage is not impacted by House Bill 920. If you don't know what that is, we'll cover that at a later date. But now boards don't have sole authority on

139inside millillage anymore. That has to go to the taxing authority um and be approved before anything can be done with inside millillage. Additionally, all there's many many changes that in the budget bill u and you could say well are they done? And the answer is I don't know because legally they have one year that where they can come back and still make changes, override governor vetos. There's a lot of still indecision or uncertainty I guess is a better word uh for how we as a school district need to manage and a school board manage and move forward uh when the playing field's still shifting >> and they might be making more changes in October. test >> that that I'm Yeah, I'm hearing that as well from and some pretty significant ones um potentially for especially

140for school districts that are on the floor. >> So, uh and we're close to the floor. So, it >> doesn't necessarily impact us right now, >> but it significantly impacts us in the next few years most likely if that goes through. So, uh, one question about the new teacher support program since that's no longer being funded. Are we doing anything or what are we doing to try and close that gap a little bit? >> So, so we started with our new teacher orientation and we do that every year. The the elimination of the recent program actually does take away some of the hoops that they have to jump through, especially a pretty significant test at the end, uh, which they when they take the the reset exam, they actually don't go through the evaluation cycle.

141We will just keep them going through the evaluation cycle and give them support along the way. We are working on our, you know, we assigning mentors, those sorts of things moving forward as well. >> It looks like we're giving them the benefits. >> We're not throwing them. Some of the hardships are being taken away. >> Yeah. We wouldn't throw them in the classroom and say good luck. We're going to make sure that they're supported along the way because we need to keep uh it it's hard to hire teachers. There is a true shortage out there. We want to keep the good ones we have. >> Thank you. >> So, we do support men teachers. Yeah. Okay. Good. Thank you for that. Uh public comment. Anyone wishing to address the board of education will be recognized

142by the board president. Speakers are requested to speak from the podium, identify themselves and their topic. Comments are limited to three minutes. [Music] Good evening board members. My name is Janette Jones. I'm here tonight to follow up on the concerns I raised at the July 24th meeting and what followed afterward. At the meeting, I asked a direct question. What happens when you've drained the PI fund and we and if we need something in an emergency situation, what will be cut? Will it be busing, layoffs, paytoplay? In response, the board president stated, "Not $1 is being spent from the general fund for permanent building needs." That statement might be technically true, but it missed the point. The reality is that the district has already borrowed from the general fund to cover a deficit in the PI

143fund. Whether or not there's that's labeled as spending, the effect of the general fund and on the service it supports is very real. I understand the PI fund is expected to reimburse the tax revenue, but given the rate of current spending, it's reasonable to ask what this kind of borrowing will happen again. My question was meant to raise the concern and encourage long-term fiscal responsibility, not to spread in misinformation. What I found especially troubling was being named in a district-wide email after meeting after the meeting. While I understand that public comments are part of the record, singling me out in an official communication to me was unprofessional and unnecessary. I let later sent an email to the board. Some of you responded, others didn't. I believe that says a lot with the silence of no

144response. So, I'll close with the three clear with three clear requests. Number one, follow the board's own policy of not responding to public comment during meetings. Number two, treat community members with professionalism and respect in all official communication. Number three, be transparent and accurate when discussing the district's financial decisions with the public. This is about this is about more than money. It's about integrity. How we lead, how we speak to the public, and how we respond to fair, honest questions. Those things matter. And if you if we can't handle that with basic integrity, we shouldn't be making decisions for this community. Thank you. >> Anyone else? My name is Mike. I live in Grand River Murphy Avenue. >> I'm sorry. What was your last name? >> Gerson. It's G E R S O N. Mr.

145Keiny, in response to your comments at the August 7th Finance and Personnel Committee meeting, it's very disturbing that someone with no experience in education would try to belittle and threaten our teachers. You have no business reviewing unedited documents and then trying to belittle people who are giving you responses to the questions that you're asking for. It's despicable. It does fit your MO though. Your leader here outlined what his goals were for our schools in 2023. Get control of schools. That's what the Joshua Pack had in mind. And you've done that. Congratulations. You have one mind. The pack was supposed to weed out unqualified candidates, which I suppose is why it doesn't exist anymore to support the two of you in your campaign. Uh but even Mr. official. He runs around getting quotes and estimates from

146random companies and the two of you don't even ask to review it. You ask no questions. For instance, the hack excavating quote, estimate, whatever you want to call it. You didn't know that that didn't actually come from hacked, Mr. Fishell. It came from Connor Fishell from a company email for a company that Scott owns. What business does his son have getting a quote for work to be done for the school district? How does he benefit? You didn't ask those questions. You don't care. You just vote with him. The lack of interest in looking twice is especially present in Miss Brewster. She's doing court in March for a accident she caused running a red light at 40 miles an hour where she nearly killed people. Yeah. >> Yeah. You uh wasn't it you Scott who told

147Mr. Massie in your interview with him? Schoolboard members should not be promoting or introducing behavior that could be potentially harmful to any Riverside student. Schoolboard members should be models of behavior for the students and staff. I completely agree, which is why I'm asking for Miss Brewster to resign her position on the board. Not only is her lack of interest in reviewing facts and information a danger to our students future in their education, but her activities in the community are a danger to their lives. She can't be trusted on the road. She shouldn't be trusted at this board table. I don't have to resort to threats, but like Mr. Keaney did. So, I'll simply say that come November, you'll see what this one community thinks you're one man show. the stakeholders will have their say at

148the pulse. Thank you. >> Anyone else? Okay. Uh consent agenda, finance and audit. Uh, I'll make a motion to approve the items uh A through I listed on the finance audit consent agenda as recommended by the treasurer. Do I have a second? A second. Any discussion? >> I would just like to thank the following organizations for their donations. Um, Amskow has, which is the Lemouth parent organization, has donated $15,000 towards the purchase of the cafeteria equipment. That is a substantial donation, and they they should be thanked for that. Um, Ohio High School Athletic Association has donated $1,250 um to the Athletic Enrichment or from the Athletic Enrichment Fund of OSAA to the Riverside Athletics and then $5,000 from Richard G. Small Foundation for the Riverside High School Construction Program Consumables. So, thank you to those

149organizations. >> Right. And I'd like to add that the $110,000 being paid for the Lamouth cafeteria furniture, not only Amskow, $15,000, but the food service fund uh is contributing to that to pay for the >> it's spend out from the food service fund. >> So, good things. It'll be really nice for >> Oh, yeah. Of course, >> it's uh branded and all. So, it it looks really neat. It's all right. Thank you for that. Any further discussion? >> Uh though I would like to note that the Richard G. Small Foundation is a organization of Cleveland Construction. Um and they gave us 3500 last year and 5,000 this year. So right >> we're excited for that community involvement. >> Right. And so generally speaking, the Smalls were the family Yeah. >> that own Cleveland Construction. >>

150Okay. >> Take the role, please. >> Mr. Fishell. I >> Mr. Keaney >> I >> Miss Brewster >> I >> Miss Grassy >> I >> Miss Kreninski >> I >> motion carries 50. >> Consent agenda personnel. I'll make a motion to approve items uh A through D listed on the personnel consent agenda as recommend recommended by the superintendent. May I have a second? >> A second. I second it. >> Any discussion? Hearing none. Please take the role. >> Mr. Fishell >> I. >> Mr. Keaney >> I. >> Miss Brewster >> I. >> Miss Grassy. >> Hi. >> Miss Kreninski. >> I. >> Motion carries 5. Thank you for that. Consent agenda, curriculum and programming. >> I make a motion to approve items A through F listed on the curriculum and programming consent agenda as recommended

151by the superintendent. >> Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Dennis Keaney. Second. >> Any discussion? >> Dr. Thompson, could you please call the role? >> Mr. Fishell, >> I. >> Mr. Keiny >> I >> Miss Brewster >> I >> Miss Grassy >> I >> Miss Kensky >> I >> motion carries 50 >> consent agenda buildings and grounds make a motion to approve the items listed items A item A on the buildings and grounds operations consent agenda as recommended by the superintendent. Can I have a second? >> Second. >> Thank you Miss Brewster. Uh any discussion? >> Yes. I have a question on the bus roads. >> Mhm. >> We have no intention of cutting busing to St. Gabriel's. Correct. Because >> Correct. >> They are St. Gabes is bust and they have routes.

152>> I just want to make sure that people are aware of that. Um apparently there is some information being put out by St. Gabes um that they should parents should be on the look for school districts to be cutting their busing because Payneesville City just eliminated transportation to St. Gabes. And so I wanted to make sure that our community was aware that we have no plans to do that. >> We cannot declare them in >> correct. I and I said that but I just wanted to make sure that the public knows that. So >> absolutely >> have no fear. I didn't think that was very fair of St. gates to put that and and lump Riverside into a communication such as that. But >> they haven't reached out at all even asking us >> to

153my knowledge. Thank you. >> Can you take the role? >> Mr. Fishell >> I. >> Mr. Keaney >> I. >> Miss Brewster >> I. >> Miss Grassy. >> I >> Miss Kensky >> I. >> Motion carries 50. >> OSBA annual business meeting. There's a resolution to approve and I think we have to discuss. >> This is this is when you get to pick who gets to vote on their new policy. We don't have them yet. >> So, who would like to do it? >> Or volunt. >> Who's attending? >> I'm attending. >> Are you Are you attending? >> I do not think so. >> Okay. >> Did one else I did it last year. I don't mind doing it again if unless someone else wants to do it. >> No, that's fine for me. Is

154it just Mr. Mercer who's attending this? >> No, I'm going to ask the if I can attend too if he can make those arrangements. >> so you want to be the alternate >> and I can do that. >> Is everyone okay with that? >> Sure. >> Okay. So, I make a resolution to approve. >> My only question Sorry. And my only question is are are these the only folks that are going to attend? No. Any other board members planning on attending? >> Okay, thank you. >> Okay. Resolution to approve Miss Brewster as delegate and Dennis Keaney as alternate to the 2025 OSBA annual business meeting at the capital conference on Monday, December 17th. >> Monday, November 17th. Did you say >> Monday? Yeah. >> Did I say >> I think you said December? Yes. on

155Monday, November 17th, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Can I get a second? >> I'll second. >> Thank you. Can you take the role? >> Mr. Fishell, >> I. >> Mr. Keaney, >> hi. >> Miss Brewster, >> hi. >> Miss Grassy. >> I >> Miss Kinsky. >> I >> Motion carries 50. >> Board of Education update. Anyone have update? Okay. Next meeting announcement will be finance and personnel committee meeting September 18th 8:00 a.m. Board of education meeting September 25th at 6:00 p.m. >> And I would like to add September 24th at 7:30 for uh curriculum programs. >> Yeah. >> Uh what time? >> 7:30. >> Okay. curriculum >> and I'm assuming buildings and grounds on the 23rd. >> Um, yes. >> It's usually two days before. So, buildings and grounds on September 23rd at 7:30 a.m. >>

156Excuse me for one sec. Is there a way that we could move the finance committee meeting? >> Sorry, >> I'm going to be out of town. Okay. The 18th. >> I'll be in Monday. I I'll be there Monday and Tuesday of that week if that works for anybody. But I won't be there Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. So Thursday, Wednesday, Tuesday, September 18th. >> Do any either of those days work? >> 15th or 16th? >> Yeah. I mean, I'll be here the following week. Also, I mean, if you want to move it to the fall, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, it doesn't matter. It just won't be here those three days. >> 7:30 7:30 or 8 on 15th or 16th works for me. Mr. King, does it work for you? Okay. Do we want to tell the Monday or

157Tuesday better? >> Tuesday. All right. So, Tuesday the 16th. >> Okay. So, the curriculum, finance and uh >> personnel >> would be September >> 16th >> 8 a.m. >> at 8 a.m. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Good. And >> anything else? policy is TB is TBD but it will be coming >> right because you have a pile of them right >> yes I've not yet processed them and then I do believe Mr. Keiny asked for a separate buildings and grounds at one point to today we don't have a date for that do you want to >> we we just kind of have to see when everybody get together >> okay >> so Dr. Thompson. Um, Gary Placo is in charge of the calendars. So, I don't know how you work that, but if we can

158update at least >> Well, >> I don't know if you have to send out new meeting invites. I don't know what you >> I think he changes the date. Uh, who did I do not have that power, but I will try to >> Okay, whatever. >> I I know somebody who does. >> Cool. Thank you. >> Okay, all set. Uh move to adjourn at 8:09. Can I get a second? >> Second. Call the roll. >> Mr. Fishell >> I. >> Mr. Keaney. >> Hi. >> Miss Brewster. >> Hi. >> Miss Graassie. >> Hi. >> Miss Kensky. >> I. >> Motion carries. 5-0. They have a great evening.