001indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> First item up, approval of agenda items. >> I'll move. Laura moves. Do I hear a second? >> Jack second. All in favor? >> I. >> All in favor? I. >> Okay. >> All right. And now the recognition of our Raiders of the month. >> Yeah. Best part of of our day and of this meeting is celebrating our Raider profile winners and this month the welcome of Mr. Mis and the Raider students from the elementary school. Thank you. >> All right. Good evening everyone. Thank you everybody so much for coming tonight. uh here to recognize some very special students. Um so I will uh call up our our staff and our students. So boys and girls, when I call your name, just come on up. Um and we
002have some some very special things uh to uh recognize you for this evening. So first, if I could have from kindergarten, Emerson Stanko come on up and Mrs. Msuchi just come right on here. Stand next to Mrs. Sushi. >> Mr. Emerson might be on the other side of you. >> Yeah. Come on. Why don't you come right over here? You want this for you? >> Hold the t-shirt, too, sweet. Okay. I recommend an Emerson for recognition because she gives great effort in my class and has a very positive attitude every day and she contributes a lot to my classroom. Uh she is a student who truly stands out not just for what she knows but for her enthusiasm and the kindness that she brings every day to my classroom. She comes to class excited to
003learn and she has a lot of background knowledge. She enjoys sharing her experiences and ideas and often helps her classmates to understand new things that they are having trouble with. She they help them understand new concepts. She's especially strong when discuss discussing stories and answering questions. >> Emerson's kind and friendly nature has helped her to build a large circle of friends and she always gives more than 100% to everything she does >> which is especially impressive for a kindergarten student. She participates often in class and is usually the first one to help me or a student who needs any help at all. One quality that really sets her apart is her abil her ability to talk comfortably with adults. She asked me to share stories about my childhood just about every day. We have some
004great stories, don't we? I'm sure you've heard some of them. Um and um and then she thoughtfully connects those stories to her own life experiences. Her confidence and her curiosity and her ability to make personal connections shows a level of maturity beyond her years. Emerson should be recognized for her hard work, her positive attitude, and the many ways in which she makes my classroom a better place to learn. Congratulations, EMERSON. WITH just right over there. >> Yeah. Take everything right over there. Take a picture here. >> Okay. Next up from first grade, if we could have Carson Mcate come on up with Mrs. Massie just stand right over here. you. Okay. Thank you. Carson is a student who takes pride in being responsible, kind, and respectful. She is a role model to her fellow peers
005who recognize her everyday commitment to achieving the learning goals for the day. She is inquisitive and always enthusiastic about learning new things. She is passionate about art, her family's Ukrainian traditions, and her hobby of sewing and entering her projects into the camp fair. Along with her excellent academic performance, Carson communicates well with her peers and shows empathy to others. She demonstrates resilience while working on hard tasks, which inspires others to aim high. Thank you, Carson, for adding so much light and love to our classroom. Okay, next from second grade, um, one of my favorite names in the whole school, we can have Hans Gruber come on up with Mrs. Les. Here you go. >> Okay. Hans fits the Raider profile by being generous. He is always thinking of others before himself. Every time there is
006a donation drive, Hans is determined to give all he can. It's not about earning a prize, but it's about of the goodness of his heart. He is motivated to learn. Hans is kind, respectful, and a hard worker. He puts in 100% effort and always tries his best. He also cheers on his classmates when they do something brave and he encourages them to keep trying. Hans is a great example of what it means to be a Raider. Next from third grade, if we could have Sienna Speizzia come on up with Mr. Irons and Miss Mrs. Mertz. >> Sienna is a student who shows what it means to be a Raider. Um, she's caring and friendly. She's a caring and friendly classmate who naturally includes others and makes sure that everyone in the class always has a
007partner. Her outgoing, funny personality helps classmates feel welcome and encourages cooperation during group work. She often brightens the classroom with a positive attitude. She shows strong leadership by checking in with peers and helping create a positive, fun learning environment. Sienna often brags about her 35 siblings. Her family regularly fosters kids who need homes. And Sienna loves being a sister at all. She uses her grit even when things are difficult. Sienna lives by the motto that we have in the elementary of doing the right thing even when no one is watching. We're proud to nominate Sienna for this Raider profile and know she'll continue to be a strong leader in our Raider community. CONGRATULATIONS. And in fourth grade, if we could have Taran McI come on up with Miss Keenan and Mrs. Beck. >> We are
008proud to nominate Tara McY as our superstar Raider. Tara displays all the qualities daily on what it means to be a Raider. She is kind, helpful, takes pride in her work, and is a beloved member of our class. Her classmates and teachers adore her as she is a champion for all of us all the time. Taran uplifts and encourages those around her. Her positive nature always shines through. Taran shows compassion to her classmates and is always there with a helping hand. She uses her grit and creativity when problem solving and is a quiet, humble leader when working in groups. Taran always has a welcoming smile on her face. One of my favorite parts of the day is when we head to lunch and she sees her younger sister Riley. Both of their faces light up
009and many days we even do a group hug together. Taran is just such a bright light light in the lives of all of us. The last thing Taran does before she leaves every day. She helps me around the classroom to make sure all the computers are plugged in and the class is cleaned up. She always goes the extra mile to make sure everyone is happy and taken care of. We are so blessed to be her teachers and present this award to her tonight. So at this time parents um we're going to take a picture of the students and their teachers. Um we'll take it right behind here. Give us a second. Thank you, bro. All right, eyes on me. One, One, two, three. Good. PARENTS, PARENTS, if you want any pictures, this time is yours.
010Definitely we can assist in the photography. >> Okay, everybody on me. Look at me. One, two, three. >> Beautiful. Thanks. One. Cool boy. One, two, three. One, two, three. Anybody else? One more round of applause. Good job. Thank you. >> Parents, give us a second to clean up. Um, and if you want to stay for the rest of the meeting, absolutely feel free to stay. But if you want to go get dinner and enjoy your evening, this is a great time to to exit out. Thank you guys. about proud of danger. >> Thanks for coming. Thanks for coming. I appreciate Hallelujah. Thank you. I have your shirt. Yeah. Congratulations. All right, I'm going to go ahead and get started. Well, thank you. You work here. Next up is public participation. Um, if you can please
011state your name and the city where you reside. You have about two minutes. per speaker and maximum of 15 minutes total. So if anybody would like to >> Yeah. So the items only >> All right. I believe uh whether you approve open enrollment or not is an agenda item tonight. So I'd like to address that. Um, right here I just had the fun job in the last uh week or so of paying my property tax bill. Uh, I give you guys $11 a day, 365 days a year. Uh, I don't mind paying the money. Somebody paid for my kids when they went here. I don't mind paying the money, but I do mind when we are using that money to fund kids who are coming here via open enrollment. And it's not about the kids.
012I I don't blame parents for trying to get in here. I moved out here, built a house out here because I wanted my kids to go here. People think I hate this district. If I was doing it all over again, I would probably do the same thing to be honest with you. It's a good place to raise a kid. My is with the school, you know, aside, it's I still have no regrets about having done that. But the problem I have is we only get about 5,000 a kid for open enrollment. According to the state of Ohio, I just I've got it printed here. We're spending about $11,000 a kid to put them through here. So, we're losing money. Last year, you had the perfect opportunity when Debbie Spece retired not to replace her. You
013only had, I think, 52 or 53 resident kids for kindergarten. We should have dropped down to at the most three kindergarten teachers. You wouldn't have had to fire anybody. You're just not replacing people. That's what other districts, Canfield, Borman, Springfield, Poland, that's how they've done it. They've rightsized the district over the years. This isn't a problem any of the five of you created. You inherited. It started back, I think, in 2012. It was mostly done, in my opinion, to preserve the sports and enhance the sports programs. We wanted students who wanted bodies. Um, I'm asking you again tonight, you know, it it can be done. I'm not telling you you have to completely reverse open enrollment. You don't have to eliminate the whole thing next year, but I would at least hope you will start
014to chip out, chip chip chip off at it, start to reduce it. >> Thank you. Thank you, Rich. >> Anyone else? >> Now on to communications with the superintendent. >> Yeah, thank you. Um, first I'd like to report out on our safety and resources goal. So, in accordance with policy 5517, bullying and other forms of aggressive behavior, at least semianually, I have to update the board on our bullying incidents from the first semester and I did update the website and I know I shared it with Mrs. Lai where there was one incident in K through 12. Um, and this is confirmed verified bullying. There's a there's a whole process that we have to do for confirm verifying with investigations and the administrators administrators were trained uh last year and then use that new process to
015align with our board policy. Next uh with our student performance update at our quarterly administrative getting better every day meetings. Um our team collaborated on our student performance district goal and again the purpose of this is to share updates on student performance ask about support what do buildings need and how can we meet that need and so forth and it was a really great meeting in which we celebrated a lot of student and staff successes. Um we reviewed recent NWA MAP. It's one of the new five approved assessments statewide that we do have. Um, we looked at third grade reading guarantee results. Um, and just as an example, in January of 2026 for the elementary school, there are 16 areas that we look at to see are we growing kids and our kids getting better
016achievement wise. So, growth versus achievement. And out of 16 areas, we improved 15 from last year. In the middle school, in math, um, we improved nine out of 10 of those areas. in an ELA. It was really great to see eight out of 10 of those areas. So, in 20 areas overall in the middle school, we grew 17 from from last year at this time. And it's really great to see the teachers hard work and the students hard work and the aids, everybody everybody contributes um as well as our instructional leaders with the principles. Um continually continuing I'd like to report out with safety and resources. I'm proud to share with the board that to date um our team and myself, we've been awarded over $138,000 in grant dollars for safety and safety features on
017the bus in the school as well as professional development. We have we have ferociously applied for grants and we are working to you know put those grants um to to good use with a lot of safety enhancements and we've had a lot of discussions on the buses and and in school campus on the school campus. Um, a couple more updates. Uh, first I'd like Mr. Zolic to update the board on our career tech and workforce development goal that we have for the district on what we're doing with um, secondary planning at the high school. >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. First off, I'm really disappointed that everybody didn't stay to hear this. People leave. Um, Jared asked me to do a quick presentation. I had this big slideshow ready to go and then he said
018you got 3 minutes so you're stuck with one minute of information. So careers um you know we start talking about careers way back in elementary school progresses to middle school and then into high school and and the you know what is the goal of education. Basically we want students to graduate and and be successful in a career get a job right. Um, so by the time they get to high school, we want them to sort of focus in on a potential career because it can dictate your educational journey, right? I mean, do am I interested in something or am I do do my aptitudes suggest that I am going to uh get into a career that would require me to go to the vocational school, the career center, um, a college prep course uh, pathway.
019So we in collaboration with the ESC had our freshman take what is called the U you science aptitude career aptitude I'll say test but it's just so it's 11 brain games where they they determine aptitudes and this is this is um you know I have it on this infographic what comes naturally to me so this is different from interests traditionally you look at interests oh but those things those change if not day to day, you know, year to year. Oh, I'm interested. I want to be a professional athlete when I'm when I'm young. Now, I want to be a gamer. Uh, two years from now, I want to who who knows? So, those change, but the the aptitudes rarely change. They they stay consistent over time. So, we put our freshmen through this test. And
020what this does is it combines your passions, your interests with those abilities that come naturally. and it recommends careers. It recommends clusters and pathways. So the cluster is like the umbrella and then pathways are specific jobs within that cluster. Um, and so what I have here for you is those those ninth grade discovery results or um on the left hand side of that infographic that shows you the three the top three uh career pathways that our student that came from our students taking this aptitude test. Uh you see rank number one as far as aptitude goes was the supply chain and transportation. The top interest was management and entrepreneurship. And you can read the rank one, rank two, rank rank three. So we take this data and what we will do now next steps. We
021already have career talks. We have people coming in who have jobs in these these fields coming in to talk to our kids because this is what our students are showing that could be potential careers for them. So we're trying to match speakers. We're going to job fairs. We're we're going to visit job sites. um all in in alignment with these the interests the top interests and the top aptitudes. So moving forward hopefully if it's a if it's an interest and a high aptitude we can match these kids up with something that they want to pursue uh for for a lifetime basically. So I think I kept it under three. >> If you need anything if you have questions about it feel free to give me a call and I can explain it in further detail.
022>> Thank you. >> Some really really exciting um revisions. I want to say or or additions to the high school curriculum. It's really fun to see uh where we're headed at the at the high school and and what how it goes 7 through 12. So, speaking of CTE, we receive many services such as the career counseling services from our our local ESSC. So, the career counselor is a purchase service through the ESC. in when my legal update last last uh the third the 19th in February, there's a new bill to actually a new law that they're talking about creating a law a new bill to make this mandate that every district works with a career counselor to literally do what we just did. It's not a bill yet, but there's an effort to make this
023because it's so important with our economy in Ohio. So to see our career counselor working with the ESC, how close they work and and Gina and the ESC, it's it's such a great partnership with Mrs. Berky who does really great work at the high school with these career counselors. Um uh speaking of career counselors, I've placed the ESC service report on the share drive for your review. Please look at that information because then I'm placing the ESC the entire contract on the March board agenda. So you have between now and March to really look at all of these. I can sit with you to look at at a lot of these services and you'll see it is a cost of economy scale. So services how much utilization is being utilized it it determines cost. Okay.
024And I I can go through all of that and again career counselor are one of those services that we utilize to help you can see the great work at the high school. And lastly, I just like one more safety and resources update. Uh we work to communicate transparently always and and I just want to remind the board every single day about safety. It's on our mind. We respect parents desire for the details, but sometimes we legally cannot provide every detail of every situation. This is especially applies to student co uh code student conduct violation that happened last Thursday, February 19th. So, as a public school, we have the district responsibility of balancing education and the safety of all kids while respecting the dignity of the individual student who might violate the code of conduct or
025experience a personal crisis while at school. This was the nature of the incident that happened last Thursday. And as a district, we shared the most pertinent information with parents, which was that students, staff, and the campus remain safe and secure. Okay. For safety drills and other unannounced safety issues, we work to provide timely information within the confines of the law. About a month ago, we had a fire alarm go off and we ran over here and we were standing right here and we put a text out like, "Parents, we're in we're on it. There's a safety issue. We're on it right now. Here's the most, you know, update information and so forth. So, as a brief recap of the occurrences on February 19th, I just want to update the board. We had a strong first
026responder and local authority presence because of a rescheduled drill that morning that was supposed to be this week, but because it was 60°, the principles in and our SRO said, "Let's do this drill today." So, we got on the phone call, hey, why don't you come to South Range? you know, we're going to have this drill later on today. With the text message, we wanted to inform parents of this presence so they knew everything was okay and if they were to drive by the school and observe the first responders. Right around the time of the drill, it was determined was the same time preschool was getting out and they see ambulance and fire trucks. You know, we we just rescheduled this this drill. Then we wanted to be clear about an individual code of conduct
027violation from earlier that morning that was involved and handled by the middle school team and the staff. Afterwards, we then encouraged anyone with questions to contact us and we're thankful for the 10 individuals who did so in this six days since last Thursday. This code of conduct violation did not reach the criteria for a lockdown because of all the afferment mentioned circumstances and we communicated this information via text. We didn't want to alarm people lockdown most time people think severe like you know because that's how we were all trained with Alice and other evacuation scenarios for lockdown. As we continue to gather input, as we've done for the the 10 parents that we've met with, our peace and safety team and public relations specialists, we are examining this feedback in evaluating for the future so
028we can always get better with providing timely information within the confines of the law. All students must follow the code of conduct. I'm going to say that again. All kids must follow code of conduct and we also must follow individual plans if they're needed as well as the progression of discipline among a myriad of safety drills and other enhancements for safety and security. I just wanted to do a real brief up uh update to the board on that. And with that being said, I just thank you again for giving me the opportunity to communicate. >> Any of the board members have any questions? >> No, thank you. Appreciate it. Um before we continue on, I just want to let people know if Dr. Dawson gets a call. >> I'm on trauma call. So again we
029have uh one. Um, but our emergency levy since we've now talked about this several times about how the panic of this being ending at the end of 2026. Could you update us on how that bill has changed? >> Uh, yeah. So they moved they call it the emergency levy they call it fix some levy now. So they changed the name of the levy and they moved into the 204 calculation that actually or levy actually goes through tax year 2028 collection year 2029. So we will theoretically if not renewed we'll stop receiving taxes in tax year 29 which would be fiscal year 30 which is not on the forecast. So yeah, we won't see that. But that's something that has changed in the last two months because we thought that we were going to be using
030that money as of next year and now we're not. >> Okay, that was all I had for that. Thank you. >> So actually I'm confused. So >> they were talk there was talk about limiting the fix up living and that was just one of the one of those. Yeah, the emergency loving there. >> But so we're not losing any money. >> No, one of the bills that allows us to renew the emergency as a fix. So back when I talked we we thought we weren't able to renew it. But we can as a fix on money. >> Okay. >> But as the years go, which we'll have to talk whether to it, we have a couple years go to whether to whether renew that or go through that. >> At that time, we will either
031have to we will have to do something because it is going away. We'll be able to renew it, but it's essentially going to be a new levy because we won't be able to renew it as an emergency levy. It will now be on the bill as a fixed sum levy. Yeah. fixed value fixed sum >> fixed sum levy. >> So either way we are going to have to put something on there but the difference is whether or not that levy is going to be calculated in our 20 mil minimum and it is now going to be. >> Is that right? >> Correct. Funded outside of >> there's a graph in my mind that nobody else can see but so we're going to have to do something but not not today. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Which
032is nice. What year are we hoping that we're going to have? >> Next year we should start talking about it. But 2028 tax year 2020 is the year it expires. So that's the first year we could do anything. >> Okay. >> Then it's collected 229. >> So we have to we certainly have a lot of time to discuss what our options are. But >> um 6 months ago it was going to have to happen like so that's good. They they helped us. >> Is that a now purchase order? >> Yeah. That's just um some of your book just timing to above the virtual law to approve it without that work. >> Okay. And then >> yeah, a motion for the staff resignations. Elena, Mrs. Maynard and Dwight Stacy. Elena served us for 9 years. Uh
033Cindy Mayor 21 years, 11 high school and 10 years with Mr. May. Yeah, that's 10 years. It's huge loss. She's amazing. and um longtime driver Dwight Stacy served 21. This was his 22nd year. So um just resignations and retirements you can see there. And then continuing with classified staff hires, we have a lot of student workers helping Dean in in the team. They're doing a great job. Uh love talking to those guys. I don't know where Dean is. Um as well as tier three driver and uh Mrs. Curry who is a driver, but she also helps Mr. Mus at recess. Um, so we are able to utilize some of our existing staff to help with the elementary school recess. Item F is a is a host of supplementals. I just appreciate, you know, Mr. Faren
034and and and Mr. Miller and and Miss Crumpac in the track group and and breaking up all those stipens and giving to me the information. It's it's it's fun to calculate all that. There's just a host of those coaches for the spring sports. Um, continuing uh volunteers, item G, this is indoor track. Um, these coaches are all helping with with that as well as Miss Starky helping volunteer for this year's softball. Um, continuing item H, this is a nonbargaining unit that's done this job a long time and uh, we have an agreement because this person's done this for for quite some time that he gets an additional percentage and we appreciate everything that coach does. Coach, I appreciate everything you do, man. You go above and beyond. people don't realize all that you do. So,
035I appreciate that. Thank you. Um, continuing, this is our raider care. Now, I I work really close with Mrs. A and and just keep Mrs. A and her family, you know, in your thoughts is she's she's dealing with some family issues right now. Um, but she has worked to not operate in the red. So, when this was first created, it was supposed to be to help our families out and to just wasn't supposed to to really um be detrimental to the district because this is something good before and afterare. Well, Mrs. A noticed that, you know, we were operating in the red. So, she called a meeting with Mario, organized this whole thing, um and has really turned it around and for next year that there is going to be a price increase if families
036need this before and after care. It's going to go from $9 to $10. and Patty thinks that she'll be good with staffing and so forth with that price increase. Um, continuing, this is item K or excuse me, um, the membership. This is our Ohio, it's an annual every year that we are part of Ohio Athletic Association and this is just our annual approval for OSHA. Um, item K is our annual our board policy talks about title one and we simply have to announce to the public we have a title one policy. Um, so that's that's what this is. It's an annual increase on that or excuse me, an annual notice on that title one policy. >> Motion to approve the consent agenda items on the >> second. Liz moves. Tyler seconds. All in favor? >>
037Those opposed? >> Okay. Pass. Treasure. Regular agenda items. >> You got a financial forecast. Just um there wasn't much change from the fall. Like I said, we're only a little over about 7 months worth of data. Um we haven't been receiving our real estate taxes yet. We still start getting them out and through the end of March, beginning of April. So then that's why I still want to do a um a May update just because we have a lot more data available, trends, um and then also what our real estate collection percent collection splits um will determine which year those kind of stuff go. Um so other than that, not much changes. I know one some of the questions that were presenting to kind of highlight other revenue um use the term tuition was used.
038Uh so it's not considered open enrollment funding but courtplace kids and open enrollment students that are in I guess special education you can submit to try to get reimbursement for some of those costs. So the biggest revenue drivers in that line item is your interest which um with the interest rates over the last few years jumped up dramatically and then your tuition costs or revenue that's the main fees Medicaid reimbursement and some of the other revenue highlighted items on that line. Um >> so it's special education is the tuition on that. >> Uh there's regular and special. So you have your court place regular get some revenue for. which they're not in the formula. >> Okay. >> And then for your overwhelming kids that are special u >> Okay. >> You could build go build
039back to try to get some of that expense back. >> Do we? >> Yeah. >> And do we get how much of it? >> It it's different by disability. >> So there's a So >> there's a threshold of like A B C D A gets this B gets that. So you actually look at the so there's two forms you fill out for performance >> because I see on the forecast you have it's a million dollars just over a million dollars for the total other revenues. Um and but you're saying we get some of that back. >> Yeah. So like I said there's the court place and you're over so there's roughly >> it's jumped up as you see in the last couple years it jumped up dramatically but then starting to go back down. So
040they kind of look at it's called per capita form. So you if you can't assign specific cost to a student they have like an average reimbursement. So then they look at well here's your average cost for the student here's how much we funded before which we're still trying to find reports on how they determine how much they fund for each kid to try to tie back to but we can't get that >> then they give us so much more >> so >> okay I just the word tuition was confusing I don't understand we don't charge tuition >> okay >> yeah that's how they classified in on their terms so if you look at our foundation boards it would be like all those other items um purchase service so it um it hasn't increased from 3
041years ago over like $600,000. I did like high like some of the 15 areas. So I know the ESC contract is a big topic of conversation. Um the biggest cost driver for that contract is as Dr. P Dr. mentioned is utilization. So preschool has been top conversation. It's not that we're incre it's our kids that live here that qualify for special education has been increasing every year. So the days that we need to educate that child has increased over the previous years. So that's why the biggest cost driver is probably over 150,000 compared to three years ago >> for just the preschool kids. >> And it's not because the cost per student has remained relatively close. It is the number of days needed because we have a higher and it's not just us, it's around
042the state. The special education of students coming up is increasing. >> So that's one of the items. Um and then >> and even though our free school we still have to pay school district >> traditionally years ago understand four or five kids that qualify for child fun. >> Okay. And the reason I brought this question up is because our shared services or shared purchases is it's a $2 million line item >> and not expenses. So I thought okay that's big enough that I want to ask what that is. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So I was wrong. So then also the ESC is so we reduce some personnel that we we pay and again through the ESC. So over the years when our psychologist uh left for another position, we contracted with the ESC for those
043days instead hiring ourselves. We were able to save I think at least 30,000 by doing that, but it still cost us roughly 80,000 with I mean it's hard to see because you have negotiate agreements that increases line items, but those line items would be higher if we hired them with ourselves. >> Okay. Another thing that changed it would have been this we were 24 we started using the honey valley cog for substitute costs instead of paying our the substitute teach ourselves again those costs from the salary benefits from purchase service line >> so that was roughly about around 135,000 in expected cost um that also drove that number up >> okay >> and then utilities was the other big cost driver >> okay >> and then CCP was another one that was 60,000 >> how
044much was CCP Last year was 150,000. 3 years ago was about 90. So this year we're still waiting on trends, but I have it I have it forecast around 150 155. >> Okay. >> So based so we're a semester behind how I get built. So we paid for right now we paid for last spring, summer, and fall. So that that information is still getting >> Okay. >> So we're always like a semester behind it with a C. >> Okay. Well, there's $450,000 you just address >> real easily. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Then electricity is >> explain. So the district plays for our students to take CCP and that's why we're trying to get a number of our teachers to get um credentialed so that cost comes down. >> And we're also looking at online courses
045through Start State, which you'll see later on in the board agenda because it's they add for rigor at a at a lower price for the district. So kids are taking it anyways. Um it's a significant savings. I'm hoping to see. >> But it's it's the state law says that you have to offer 50 any university 50 miles within your school zip code. You have to offer different universities. So we can't say guys, >> right, >> take start state, you know, take start state online. Now, if you're going to YSU in person, we're not talking about those kids. We're talking the bulk of kids that take it online. >> Um, right. >> We're hoping that Mrs. Burki last week had that meeting the CCP meeting and we're hoping more people were to take >> the online
046version of start date simply and I hate to say that that way but it's when comparing apples and apples it's like hey this is a green it takes a little bit >> so where we at with our teachers being credentialed >> I would have to I would have to talk to the teacher I know Mr. resulting um that's between CTE between industry recognized credentiing with Adobe Microsoft there's a lot of conversations um there's a lot going on CCP I'd have to get back to you >> okay >> but it's a lot for a teacher I mean you the masters plus nine hours in that content you know and it's like the time for the teacher to do this cuz it's basically you're going back to get another master >> so you know our teachers at
047the high school specifically do a ton. I think 100% of them are in charge of one if not two different clubs. So like kudos to these guys for their hard work. >> Do we have like a number of teachers who are currently working on that CCP certification? >> I'd have to ask Mrs. Fishel. >> Do you know how many just more than more than a couple? >> I'm not aware of any. >> Oh, okay. Okay. Well, that's >> but the topic I I know recently there was some psychology some discussions on oh I would possibly do that but it is a it's a big I mean you're doing this on a weekend at home getting another >> which we would have to pay for >> yeah we would reimburse that but it's worth it if
048we can get more of our kids to take it with our st like when kids are with our teachers great things happen you know and it's like we want more kids with our staff >> it's one of those you know >> no I just it's a time thing I I get that. Yeah, I get that. That's asking a lot. >> And then the other difference was utility electricity. So, we are part of the power schools that helps keep our rates down, but they have gone up and that makes up the other difference. Okay, >> those are the main areas kind of trend. >> Thank you. It was a big jump. So, I was very Thank you. That's very helpful. >> Um, and you had a question about the ESC per pupil charge. That's another object.
049So, >> the one revised code we have to when we contract the ESC, it's a a revised if you're under like 16 units, it's a 650 $6.50 50 cents per charge ADM that gets deducted as part of the PS deduction on the foundation statement. So it's a coding thing. That's why it's coded there. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Um and then I think the other one had to do with the renewal levy which I addressed. >> You just addressed it. >> Thank you. >> So if you have any questions about forecasting, there's not much change from the fall. Um there are some updates. So our benefits will train a little bit lower just based on some of the transportation hiring certain personnel that are some more plans or less. I updated for that training for >>
050seven moves. >> Seconds. All in favor? >> All right. Grants. >> Um yeah, as Dr. mentioned, we got a lot of grants um over the last month, which is we're very excited about. Um, so I don't know if you want to highlight the one I think team team you guys applied for a couple years ago that we just heard back about updating some kind of >> cyber security update some kind of we're looking to change because a certain program got we were very excited to get this and big shout out to Mr. Hass goal. We were very excited to get this and big shout out to Mr. Cassie K and I we in our team we all talk every day about safety. We were very excited about this grant as well as another grant we
051received earlier in the year. Thanks man. >> And then just a second round of the tech grant that usually training for AI. >> Yeah. So we're really pivoting. Um we we've met with the staff several times and and AI was one thing. I know at the high school specifically a lot of AI questions. So we uh write grants and with those grants we get AI professional development and it is I mean Mr. Zolic is an expert in >> I never know about that. >> Yeah. But it is what's going on with AI and our AI policy and updating our AI policy and so forth. So uh that's what that grant was for that professional. >> And what was the total of the grants that were received? >> 130 over $138,000. Uh we still have a
052we still have a couple grants out there that I haven't received yet. Um, and it's it's a process to go through and apply. I have a couple more I'm I'm applying, but it's really awesome to see. The last time we had, you know, this amount was when they gave us CO dollars for things. They don't give that out anymore. So, um, you know, we're going after more. I'd like to go after a distance learning grant where we'll get Mondo boards in the middle school and high school a fixed with cameras so we can do some distance learning. Um, mining company. there's a lot of opportunities to get kids with the career tech aptitudes that we've been discussing um and to see these careers. So really really excited for the future of our district. >> Right.
053Any questions? >> Motion that the South Range Local School Board of Education approve the following grants. >> I'll move. >> I'll second. >> Liz moves. >> No, Laura. >> I'm sorry. Laura moves. >> Liz second. All in favor? >> All right. appropriations update. >> Uh yeah, just update to amend to the expected expenditures and then also the grants. Um the revenue then the appropriate for that. So things start to be spent. Um so that's where the major most of the changes are. >> Any questions? >> Tyler moves. >> Second. >> Jacks. All in favor? >> The rates and property. >> Uh yeah, there's a sale. Also, the uh the one law firm that kind of looks at any kind of property taxes noticed um a sale that went way above the property valuation. So, but
054with all these property tax bills, I don't know if we see the new revenue, but it's significant increase to help the district, but time will tell how much we'll see with the property tax bill changes. >> Any questions? >> It was like $130,000 when we looked into it. It's crazy. >> I did not forecast that. >> Keep that one out. All right, >> Tyler moves. Do I have a second? Sure. Laura seconds. All in favor? >> I do activity and budget. >> Some ski programs I think and then just the budget purpose too. Yeah. >> Okay. Motion move. Liz moves. Zach second. All in favor? I >> bus purchase. >> Yeah. Brenda and I think her team went out to Myers. They um another district placing their fleet that's I guess very good condition that
055she wanted to buy was below the brush to cover fit it. Um but she sells in great condition. So instead of buying a brand new one, we were able to find one that's that she really likes. Put that part in. So we'll pay for this out of capital projects. Yeah, we fund must purchase what we transfer money to. So you look up forecast that other expenses line transfer. So in which this is below what was forecasted. So our savings. >> Yeah. >> Yep. I'll move. >> Tyler moves. >> Second. >> Jack second. All in favor. >> Donations foundation. Not any favor. I don't know. They applied for something that they want to get to. >> Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. >> Motion board moves. >> I'll second. >> All right. Superintendent regular agenda items. >> Yeah. So,
056with all the high school changes, this is all placed in a curriculum guide Mrs. Berky um works on with the team. And this just documents every year, you know, revisions and changes and feedback from the staff. So, this is located once you board approve it, it will be on the website. >> Motion. >> Tyler moves. >> I'll second. >> Liz seconds. All in favor? >> All right. 2025 2026 gifted procedures. >> Yeah, this is an annual um motion resolution. Every year ODW makes changes to grade levels and cut scores and cognitive assessments. So when they do that then we have to go through and update our gifted services plan. We have to revise it to align with the law and so forth. So recently um you can see with River Insight there was a change
057on the cut score. So then we have to go through our our handbook and update that and then the board has to reuse that. >> Any questions? >> Motion. >> Jack moves. I'll second >> Liz seconds. All in favor? >> Okay. Tilly lease look less and less. >> And this is an annual resolution for the the land next to Little Raiders uh that we work with with them to >> I'll move. >> Tyler move. >> Second. >> Laura second. All in favor? >> College Credit Plus with Stark County. >> I addressed it earlier. If you have any questions, let me know. >> Motion. >> I'll move. >> Liz moves. >> I'll second. >> Tyler seconds. All in favor? >> All right. Board policy considerations for March 2025 adoption. >> So, these are all first reads.
058You have this month to go through them all. Thank you, Miss Chismore, for >> attempting. Did that read 2026? >> 2026 adoption. >> Mama, my me. >> Why are you thanking me? What did I do? You went you're starting to read them. They are >> Oh, sorry. >> They are fun. I mean, you'll see the strikethroughs. It's a lot of language updates. Notice the notes. I went through and tried to summarize. We meet with the Neola representative who works to put all these. Um, so you guys have a month, the board has a month to review these. If you have any questions, um, let me know. >> I do have questions. >> A lot of revisions. Yeah. >> One of them, um, it was the AI training. Um it was a it said it was
059a replacement policy but it said that the we will provide AI training to our staff periodically. >> What does that word mean? >> So it's what we're doing right now. So we have an AI person coming in to get professional development as well as next year. Um we have these online courses called Vector. >> Okay. >> And now with AI being a mandate through policy I'll probably have to add a vector course. Well, this week >> I apologize. I apologize. >> That AI grant that we have or you already have that spent. Okay. The way AI is has changed over the last couple of years. I would like to think that that term periodically was more of a quarterly turn than a yearly turn. >> So this is that we have we're teaching teachers. We're
060providing the legal understanding of AI in schools which is the vector we say all that. Um, we have a professional development plan of what you're discussing. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> So, on that note, and I may have missed it when I read through that, um, are we do we have a code of conduct for AI? >> So, the code of conduct >> like dedicate I don't remember seeing it. >> It's not specified. So you don't want multiple code of conducts >> targeting essentially saying we will use this judiciously upon >> correct students especially as they get older. Hey we realize this is an opportunity we may not should not use this. >> Correct. So we chose our team chose the one that says teachers um can discipline for plagiarism teacher like
061it it's in there. So that is on the policy but then we refer to code of comic violations. So that's how because you don't want you don't want multiple codes. >> You're just referring back to the original code, >> but it says to to to follow the appropriate use, >> okay, of AI. >> I I just didn't. So that was the one actually fueled in my mind was >> the plagiarism issue I think can get hairy like >> Dr. might actually know some of this. I'm seeing AI cited in some of our journal articles now >> really. And so it's it might that's kind of why I'm asking is this something we should just be saying, hey, >> is this going to be a site source that we should be using for the kids? Because
062the purpose of at least in my mind when we do these papers with them is to just teach them the creative writing process. It's not always about exactly how they're doing or exactly what they're writing, but to go through the process. If you're skipping the process, >> you're defeating the purpose, right? That was the only thing I didn't see in the body of text on that AI policy. >> Correct. Yeah. And we actually uh Dean and myself, we we selected that option specific to that. >> And then this year the high school staff, we actually put it out for for individuals to pilot this year, but we there's a there's a AI technology for plagiarism software that we teachers wanted for their classroom. We purchased for the teachers this year. So moving forward again this
063isn't evolving. >> Yeah. I realize this is this is going to be ever changing but it's just >> paper pencil. >> I maybe there's occasional studies coming out on that. >> Remember the chalkboard. >> I like I like the chalkboard. It's a good medium. >> I did want to highlight one change in the law which means a change with our policy is kindergarten. kindergarten now is the law says if they turn five by your first day of school you have to admit to work later because of Labor Day. So just know that that's in there and you'll read the law house Bill 114 but um you'll see that first reason >> but it's still by six by September 30th >> that for f yes >> it's five for >> so that's in there as well.
064So if you have any questions on any of those >> Thank you. Yep. >> Okay. Motion to approve the first read for the policies. >> Second. >> Laura Jun seconds. All in favor? >> All right. Now, open enrollment 2026 2027. >> Yeah. This is the board policy that um permits the district to do interdist open enrollment with district capacity limits by grade level school buildings and educational programs. Um so with I I updated everyone back in in January with this vote then we will move forward or not move forward but move forward with what our capacity numbers are. We will populate the website. I will not know that for kindergarten yet until we have the kindergarten registration which is next week. So, we did meet recently with the administrative team. They did tell me that
065capacity number. And this year, we're going to publish that capacity number on the website so people can see um exactly what it is and so forth. >> And so, voting though on this would include all current open. >> Correct. Yes. So, it's all >> correct. And we love all of our raiders. Um I I just can't thank enough of all of our raiders and their contributions to this district. So, >> I want to make sure everyone was clear. Yeah, >> I do have um a couple questions. I know it has brought to um my attention and a couple other board members about um parent families renting, especially high school students having their families rent so they could come here and play sports. And I had you look into the stipulations with that that there was
066paperworks and a site evaluation. on that side evaluation. I would like you, myself, and we will pick another member to do that side evaluation because the last thing we want is South Range to get >> saying that we're recruiting because that affects all of our sports. >> so if if someone rents an apartment, they're considered a resident. But with Mrs. Lowi through the Ohio Athletics Association, there there's procedures, there's paperwork, and there's um you have to do certain things. So to you hit the nail on the head with that and that would be the process. Yeah. So great question. It's not necessarily open enroll because in that case that's a resident per se, but they have to they have to provide evidence of this residency. >> So right providing evidence instead of going through our
067open enrollment process when they're originally from a different district. >> Correct. >> How would you know? Just because we know >> you have to. You have to >> have to provide your residence just to enroll period even if you live in district. They ask for like the >> right. So it's for everybody I think. >> Yeah. >> And that would be through if a 10th grader comes in and it's a new resident the we would obviously have to open our doors regardless of capacity. However, that stipulation would be through the Ohio High School Athletic Association. >> No. So, if they were here for sports, so let's say someone is renting an apartment for athletics and you're on whatever sport it is and you're competing and it's like you turned in data to say I'm renting
068this apartment. There's certain procedures to let OSHA know like no, this is person's actually living there. in in Toka. So there's an actual procedure because it's an issue throughout the state of oh I'm renting this place but they're not. >> Has this been an issue in our district current like recently or is I know you may have brought this up but is it a current? There have been um a few students who have actually bought um places in the district that had a proof that they living living there. That did happen I would say about eight years ago because it was when um he was a freshman because he graduated with my son and we had to do a walk through. >> Yeah. because they're just people just buying houses. It's just saying that's the
069residents just to go to South Range. So there are stipulations with a athletic association >> and in our open question. Yes. >> Yeah. In our open enrollment policy, we actually um because we revise a lot of those administrative guidelines if there's any falsification of documentation that's in the automatic denial. Um, so there are several several aspects of what not to do and we're just like be honest, you know. So, but that's in the open enrollment. The open enrollment um guidelines are quite extensive and um I know I went over this is just >> you did. So yeah, we um we talked a lot about open enrollment and in the years it's no secret I've had comments um I've made comments about open enrollment and it turns out that my problem with open enrollment is not
070the open enrollment policy itself which states we are either an open enrollment school or we are not. My problem is within the administrative guidelines within that policy that I think in the past had been abused. They're abusive in my opinion to a lot of the staff and I don't think the students were getting the best education here with the high volume of students we had. So um with that being said, I think after conversations with these two that our our open enrollment policy of being an open school district should remain, but I think the guidelines within it need reviewed extensively. >> Maybe to reduce our numbers of how >> to reduce our numbers. Yes. I And I'll go back to what Rich has said more than one occasion and I have as well that um
071having an entire classroom full of open enrollment students, that entire classroom of those students doesn't pay for that teacher, let alone all of the other resources that are being utilized. So, and I also understand in that that that brings us a bit of a quandry as we get older. We've talked about this too. As the kids get into middle school and high school, the teachers can certainly handle more kids. And the problem is our bottleneck is in kindergarten. And I'm not sure how we as a district open that and get more kids to come in at fifth grade and then at high school. Once kids are in high school, they don't want to move. They don't want to come to a new district. And I understand that. But without the numbers that we currently have,
072our programs in the high school suffer drastically. We have a few programs. I don't know the numbers, Mr. Zik. I can meet to see you about it, but how many programs we have that have 10 students or less in them? If we didn't have that open enrollment, we might not have some of those programs. And that that is what brings some of the kids here, too. So, without those programs, our open enrollment numbers might just go down anyways. So, I don't know what the problem here. I don't know how to fix it. But um after the conversation I I still firmly believe that uh having huge kindergarten, first, second, third grade classrooms and 30% of them being open enrollment I think is still a problem. But that is neither here nor there for this policy.
073Um, I still think we need to have open enrollment to be able to operate our school district because I don't think we can survive on 50 students in a grade. So, did you pull the numbers? I asked how many open enrollment >> 4% is our stat. And what is the total open enrollment? >> 29. No, I'll have that updated once we go through the process. >> The total is 29 >> 29% in the district. >> Okay. And then take away the 4% so it's 25. >> Correct. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> No. I mean I So again I agree actually a lot with what you said, Laura. big picture in my mind looking at this is this year has shown us there's a lot of legislative volatility right there's a lot of things we
074don't know what's going to happen property tax- wise there's a consolidation there was a projection on what schools might consolidate I I agree that a drastic downsize probably would not be a safe play right now I think there's something you said for having a healthy and robust school both for people who get the access to school but also people who live here. It offers value to the community. It offers property value. It makes it a desirable place to live. There's pros and cons to both, right? But also, I would agree that it and to Mr. franchise point I think it would be unwise to not look at opportunity whether it's attritional um to focus in you know economization monetarily that might benefit the school by bottlenecking it at a younger age group and also that
075that might result in better ratios for kids as well for teaching. So, I I think we do we owe it would be prudent to look at that those opportunities if they're coming in the fight to to help on those numbers at a younger age, but also I think it's unwise to just go in and slash things out right now. We don't know. You don't want to if if we can't if we have something happen where funding becomes an issue and you're going to talk major consolidation or god forbid to look like Virginia and all of a sudden you have county run board of education county run superintendent you don't want to be a shrinking district and there's been a ton of up and downs right now. So in this moment I agree with you. I
076think >> and also I think if we if we fell below the guarantee right now it' be hard. >> We won't >> I don't think we could cut enough. We'd have to cut so much in in educational opportunity would affect the kids that were left here. >> But that doesn't mean we shouldn't be looking how to streamline things at the earlier at the opening gate right now for elementary school, right? If those opportunities are coming about naturally, which I think there might be actually. >> Yeah. >> So again, two cents. Still don't know what >> I made the uh I made the comment in a maybe it was January meeting or something about how we whenever we were negotiating with contracts about with the teachers union about you know setting parameters for classroom size and
077loading. I think we're at 88 uh for the for the kindergarten or whatever. And um that was in an effort to to manage that class size. So I don't I just want everybody to understand that like it's been a thought like we've thought that through as far as you know what's the maximum capacity that we could run without being you know having a bad ratio as far as student to teacher wise. So um I agree with what you guys said. Um, I I I wish there was uh I wish there was an easy answer, especially with with all of the the funding stuff and we had perfect clarity of what exactly was going to happen, but uh for now I don't there's there's no way there's no way. And I would if they're here I
078I think that all of our families that are here, they're they're part of our family now. as well. >> Absolutely. >> I think we have to look at too the with us moving back where we our starting date that coming in kindergarten, we're going to have younger kids which are going to need a little bit more help. >> Another month too. We have another month worth of kids coming age wise, >> right? >> That we would have anticipated. >> One thing I did have a question. So you said you were going to post the capacity like that's by grade level. >> Yeah. >> Okay. So, is there a cut off date that we're going to set um for that? Because the last thing that we need is it's and it's bound to happen is, you
079know, a class gets full and then two resident kids move in. Now, all of a sudden that number is inaccurate. Like, is what's what's our cut off date? Is it application time or is it >> there's a deadline? There's that. I just can you explain I I Can you explain that first? Like so that's hard. >> Yeah. So we meet with the the principles and they tell us that number. So for example 88 you brought up. So 88 is in I don't know fifth grade. I'm just making up a number like you know fourth grade 88 kids. So we they set that number and then when we're doing open enrollment applications we have a whole because we we revis those AGs and we we made it um very >> AG administrative guidance. >> Correct. Yeah.
080And if students, so with residents, let's say there's 70 residents, you know, at 88, so we could take 18 as an example. Um, but you also got to factor in they've been here. So like the fourth graders from the fifth grade. So you might only have a spot for one and three people show up. Well, that one gets in and those two others don't open enrollment. So that's how those numbers are set. We're going to post it on the website um I think soon, like once we get the kindergarten, which we don't we have no clue. kindergarten could have to Laura's point it could have 100 right now or it could have under 100. We have no clue because this is brand new for all kindergarten across the state. Um so once we get that
081um we actually Steve and I have a meeting set up. We want to look at these numbers. We want to meet with the kindergarten first grade teachers be transparent like hey here's where we are with numbers. Here's what we're thinking. Like what are you guys thinking? What works? What's not going to work? Um and then go from there. So then we'll post that on the website and then people know like hey this is a capacity. >> No this is new open enrollment not exist. >> Correct. >> I just want to make that clear. >> Good point. Good point. >> Also something that you you guys did last year that was new was your tiered system of >> of if you've already been a student here you are like >> scored one to five. You get
082five points likely to to get in. and as you tear down if you're just a brand new family and you're trying to open enroll and you're in fifth grade while you're >> you're down here lower than all the rest of these >> 100% >> kids. So it's the fairest way you can do it. Um >> so I guess we'll see. >> Yeah. >> Is it possible once you get the numbers you can share those numbers with us? >> Okay. We can take a look at >> Yeah. It's going to be it's going to be public, you know, once we get get that like we'll post it. Everyone's going to be able to see like K has this capacity. Um person has this capacity, you know, and then that's the total number. So if we had
083>> But you don't have your capacity yet. You wait until you get your in district registration. >> We don't know that. Yeah. And and your intent to return to those have those forms gone out yet? >> We're waiting for this this >> Oh, that's right. It sure does, but didn't. Okay. >> And we do have a small little buffer in each class just in case residents kids >> move in. >> Correct. >> No. So, we have that capacity number and that's the number and if residents come in then then we're a couple years ago my first year here. Steve called me up and said, "Hey, this is the number." I was like, "Okay, great." And then it was August we had uh people move in and it was like whoa truck numbers up a little
084bit where we weren't expecting that. So it's plus or minus at one year it could be six usually around two or threeish. I think Steve says he anticipates. Um but that happens every every year. >> You mean from the registration period until the first day of school? >> Yeah. >> Even after even middle of the year. Yeah. Sorry to interrupt you. That's that happens. Homeless. >> Absolutely. um court plays. There are things that are outside that we legally have to educate. I'm the homeless liaison. I'm the CTE leazison. Like all of these things that we have to factor in that don't go into any of this, but you have to educate. >> So then if they don't have a buffer and you have a resident child within, what happens to >> they say I mean
085they're in numbers, but we have higher we have higher numbers. So if that number was 22, okay, now it's 24, >> which is why into consideration between 22 was like the max we could do because of that buffer. You know, you spread them across four classes. Now, every teacher, you know, three of them have 23 and one has 24. I mean, you can have and and now they're they're here and in accordance to this policy like they they stay and they there's just that capacity will be a zero as long as we don't lose that many ch that many kids in future years and we would say this grade is closed. We'll still take your application because if people leave or you know so we still encourage people to turn. >> Can we accept an
086open enrollment in the middle of the year? >> No, >> I didn't think so. Okay. But we could the following year for them >> correctly or like someone because we do it in April. So we'll be there like I'll be there with Paul at 5 in the morning cuz a lot of people So we'll start taking applications and let's say there was someone but then I mean this happened uh a a really nice gentleman moved to Georgia. I got a new job in Georgia. Well there's three kids out you know. So it was like well okay that was April May June July. Hey I can call you up. It's May. And Steve does. He calls like, "Hey, we have a spot or Paul off. We have a spot now in this grade." I was in
087school and you're first on the list because there's that whole order now. >> So, you had until the first day of school to June 1st. >> June 1st accept open. Okay. >> And just because like I'll just use some plain numbers here. So if uh if you're at 88 in the elementary school and you get four that moved in between uh you know first day of school like now you're at 92 uh a kid moves out middle of the year that does not open a spot. >> No >> that that is you're still three above the the >> ultimate number that we decided on. So just for clarity purposes that that's not just because somebody moves out doesn't mean there's a spot open. Correct. Any other questions? >> All right. Motion to approve open enrollment.
088>> Is that Jack? >> Jack moves. >> Second. Go ahead. Roll call, please. >> Jack. >> Yes. >> Chismar. >> Yes. >> Tyler. >> Yes. >> Elizabeth Jones. >> Yes. >> Terry Lou. >> Yes. passes. All right. Public participation for non-aggenda items. >> There two minutes. >> All right. I'll start. Um I I'd like to know how you get 88 as a number when we have 50 or 60 kids pretty much every grade level. To me, that's three teachers. So, we're using open enrollment as an employment opportunity to keep teachers. And I don't want to see teachers get fired, but we should start as people are retiring. I believe Mrs. Pool is going to retire in December. I can't believe Kim Msuchi has too much longer. Mrs. Beck, you have a bunch of older teachers
089over the next couple of years that are going to retire. Okay. >> As that happens, as that happens, you don't need to replace them. That's the whole problem. my when my kids were here, I I can't I I can't remember what it was, but there were about 110 kids in a grade level. We still had four teachers. So, we had bigger class sizes. So, we I don't know where this 88 thing is coming from. On a macro issue, I don't know how folk, you know, how much attention you guys pay to the whole property tax thing, but there is a very good possibility property tax repeal will be voted on this November. I was at a Republican meeting last week with some state reps. They say in two polls of likely Republican voters in one
090poll 78% are for it and the other poll it's 82%. Vic Rama Swami I answered a poll for his campaign last night in which he said one of the things he wants to look for is a constitutional amendment to eliminate property tax. If that happens everything you talked about tonight it doesn't matter >> because you guys are going to be forced there's 500 or no 610 school districts in Ohio. There should be about 250 to 300. You need to start approaching people to look for partners to merge with. Canfield needs a new building. This is a beautiful building. Slam the two together. It would, you know, but that's going to I I understand that politically that's probably not possible right now. After the November election, it may be your best bet, but you have to
091start looking at looking out for the taxpayer. I don't think you folks really understand the animosity that exists out there for property tax, but it is huge. It's happening and you're going to have to address it. >> You know, >> thank you. >> All right. Other matters. >> Next meeting. >> I have a question. >> Hold on. >> Ask anybody else if they want to talk. >> Yeah. >> Sorry, Paul. >> It's okay. Paul Mson. Um, first off, thank you for voting yes for me today. That was appreciated. But on the open enrollment thing, I'm glad you guys passed it. Um, it's obviously been a hot topic in our community. But you talk about the numbers. You I graduated 30 years ago from here with 88 kids and there was no open enrollment. Now you
092talk about class sizes that are about 88 to 90 kids with open enrollment. So, if we get rid of open enrollment, which you didn't tonight, which I appreciate, but looking at it going forward, if we do what he is suggesting where you're getting rid of teachers and having smaller classes, you talked about it last month, we won't be South Range. South Range won't exist anymore because you have smaller classes, smaller enrollment, you then have to go and consolidate with somebody else and you don't have the South Range that we grew up with. Open enrollment, in my opinion, is not the problem. The problem is, yes, you have kids coming from K through 8 stays about the same. When they get to the high school, they spread out a little bit, go out to the JVS,
093go online, so they're not in the building. The problem that I see is, especially at the elementary level, is you took away the people who help those teachers out in their classroom. When you've got 23, 24 kids in there and one teacher, yes, it might be a little overwhelming at sometimes, but they need the aids that help them out in there. Not getting rid of open enrollment so there's less teachers and less kids. They need to help back there is what they need. Not saying, "Okay, these kids don't come here anymore. We're not open our doors anymore to these kids and we're just going to keep the kids who live here stay here." Okay, that's great. But then you're not going to be here anymore. You're going to be like he said, "We're going to
094be Canfield. We're going to combine with Springfield. We're going to combine with Jackson Milton or one of those schools." That's what's going to happen if you say, "Don't hire these people. Don't bring these people like they're retired. Don't bring anybody else in. The sizes of the classrooms are not the problem. They weren't when I was here, Terry, Laura. They weren't when you guys were here, Jack. The sizes have all been about the same, sometimes bigger. >> Well, and I'll address a little bit of that. That's true. However, when you were in kindergarten, you went half day. >> Every other. >> You were every other. >> You were half day, weren't you? >> No, we were every other. >> So, either way, you were every other. So, they were able to have more kindergarteners with the
095same number. >> Okay. But to banter back to you for a second, how long have we been full time? Monday through Friday, four classrooms of kindergarteners. >> How long has that been? >> It's been at least 15 years in this building. >> Yes. Say that, Mr. Mason. I'm sorry. >> Over 20 years. 23 years. But it to go back to Paul's point, but it was just three years ago that we lost those full-time aids in each kindergarten classroom. >> So that is >> that's a huge problem. >> It is it is being addressed. Thank you, Paul. We appreciate that. >> Yeah, we've actually Dr. Zapnik and I have been sitting down looking out um the kindergarten numbers and having additional aids in there, especially since like we talked about having the younger children come in.
096We want to make sure they have the help that they need. >> I mean, the FDA kids and the mentors can only do so much in the high school because they're not certified to do that stuff. >> And they want to do it, but they're not certified to do it. >> Oh, sorry. >> I know, but I >> Any other questions? >> I just would like to point out this this is actually a consortium of the old North Lima High School and Greenford High School. So, this is actually a merged district. >> We know. >> Oh, we know. >> From 19. >> So, but I mean, yeah, but the problem is there aren't any kids. If you look at your demographics, they don't just show kids. We have to >> any other questions. >> Not
097a question, just a thank you. Uh twofold thank you. One for uh the special meeting that you had in renewing Jared's contract. The man's got a passion for the school. Uh and I appreciate that and thank you for what you did here tonight with the open. Uh >> yeah, I have another matter actually. >> Okay. >> Are we are we done? Any other public participation? >> Um it's been a couple months since we talked about the well >> and I know you were waiting to hear from anybody. Did you ever hear anybody? Do you have any recommendations? >> Exactly what I was. >> Wonderful. >> Good. Thank you. >> So Dean was I don't know if you could touch on that. So there's a process for >> the well and the wells in progress. Yes.
098EPA. >> The EPA apparently has a uh uh another mechanism for putting submitting plans. >> Uh we I emailed our local EPA rep. She didn't get back to me. So I emailed her back. I said, "What's going on with this?" And she then informed me that, "Oh, there's this new method you have to follow." So I I've been emailing Jared. He's been CCD on it. Uh, so that process is moving forward, but it's not moving forward as quickly as we'd like it to, but I'm hopeful that within by the next board being off a better update on >> what's your timeline on wanting to secure somebody to do this work like >> as soon as possible. We we are currently running off of >> right >> one >> and that's not really what I meant.
099I meant with the contractors. How much how far are these guys out? Are they 3, four months out or you >> We shouldn't have We shouldn't have that big of an issue. Dean's been in contact with them. They understand that we're a little bit different of a situation. So, whatever. So, I don't see that being an issue. >> Okay. >> Um unless they come back to you with anything different, but >> no. >> Okay. >> No parking lot. Well, and actually it might be well for us to have the two near the same time because in case they have to go across the parking lot, that would obviously have to be repathed if if we are trenching instead of boring. So, those are some things that >> yeah, there's work together. And then the the
100log the parking lot we're working on through paid connect our third party um that should be progressing going out soon for >> and we're getting bids too to >> yeah that'll obviously be public bid for >> or the actually the parking lot across where the buses and everything are too >> just this side. >> Okay. I mean, that's what we had talked about being, you know, we have I've talked about it at length before, but the uh the facility needs to be upkept and maintained and we've used the opportunity of the re reappraisals to take some of that money and that hasn't ever been put away into uh a capital improvements fund to create and develop a facilities management program to where we can instead of having to move large amounts of money like we
101had to with the reappraisal. We're going to continuously move um smaller amounts of money so we're not seeing large impacts and it's easier to forecast for Mario on the forecast. But uh essentially um with everything going on with the uncertainties with uh the legislations and stuff like that, we thought it was best to just do the necessary side over here. And we'll figure that out when the dust settles with um the the legal or the um political landscape and and and the bills coming forward. The last thing we want to do is overcommit to spending on a parking lot across the street whenever uh that wasn't necessarily a necessity, but more of a a want. So, let's focus on what really matters, and that's getting the teachers, the students, and the buses in and out
102of this lot safely and people to and from. And we'll deal with that at a separate time. So, that's that's my thought. If anybody has anything to add or any different thoughts, that was Thank you. >> All right. So, the next board meeting will be on March 18th, 2026 at 6 o'clock. And I um talk to you guys individually about doing like a special form with the evaluations coming up that um I'll reach out to you and see what things are good for you. So, you were you were talking, but so evaluations for Mario and Dr. comment to go over that and maybe go over the ESC if you have any questions on that because we have to vote on that next time. Okay. >> So, it'll be before our next March meeting and I
103will reach out to you to see what date is good >> and then that would be um open public. >> Yeah, it's it's a work it's a work session >> social media. No, no, it's a work session. >> All right. So motion to adjurnn. >> I'll do that one. >> Laura, >> yep. >> Second. >> Tyler seconds. All in favor? >> Okay. And the time? >> 7:33. Giving choice.