001like to call the uh Stone Monroe Falls School Board to order. Can I have the roll call, please? Merleti >> here. >> Sheen, >> here. >> Sua Dolnik here. Before we stand for the pledge, I'd like to just take a moment to acknowledge um the uh significant loss we've had in our community um of uh the teacher Al Bosow. I did not have the privilege of knowing her and meeting her, but uh the outpouring that I've heard from the community, the response that I've heard has just been overwhelmingly positive. And it's obvious that to know her is to love her. And I'd like to ask for everyone to give a moment of silence in her honor. >> Could you please stand for the pledge of allegiance? But before we do that, um the Ohio law
002is pretty clear that the board members who have not been sworn in are still members of the board for purposes of uh roll call. And also um given the um elections, M. Meritty, Mr. Moyer and I are in the same position where if we have not previously been administered the oath of office, we are in the same position. So um I would like to add ourselves to the roll call. I did in fact have myself u I had my oath administered at about 5:40 today and so I am sworn in uh today will be uh for ceremonial purposes. So I would like to move to add myself and Mr. Moyer to the roll call. >> Is there a second? >> Second the roll call. Moyer >> Whitaker >> here. And one more motion. Um I
003would move to remove items four and 20 from the organizational meeting agenda. Um for two reasons. One, they're not proper for an organizational meeting. I went all the way back to 2013. We've never had them before. And second of all, um the board handbook that we were given today um shows that that was not complied with because the agenda was made public on Friday and there was no public comment in it. it was added on Sunday and so because those two items are not appropriate for today I would move to remove them from the agenda. I would just like to add that the reason >> second >> I'd like to add the reason I did ask those to be added after the agenda meeting because I did receive uh community feedback that um asked for
004the opportunity to for transparency and for uh the sake of unity in our community to be able to have their voices heard and they have made themselves known that they feel that in the past that the community voice has been shut down too much and so I felt like there's no reason to not hear from the community unless there's a reason to not have transparency. >> The the transparency is outward from us speaking and and being deliberate and honest with our actions and words, not the other way around. That's community participation which I am fully in favor of at all times where appropriate. The organizational meeting is not that time. Um I have >> You are not in favor of letting the community have a say? I am not in favor of abandoning our protocols
005just to achieve means to an end. And so I would move again to remove items four and 20 from the agenda. >> And I second that. >> I'm I'm just going to continue to say that I think that you're setting up a uh a year of uh contentiousness. You and both you and Mr. Moyer have made a pledge to the community throughout your campaign that your goal was to bring us closer together and for your first move on the board to um come on and try to change the agenda and try to silence the community before anything else has happened before we've even stood for the pledge of allegiance. It does not bode well for the idea of a a campaign promise of trying to do better for the sake of the community and for
006the students. We had a very very good opportunity this evening to uh show the community that compromise works on both sides. That uh unity means working with uh both sides and that um exchange of ideas with the community and the board um is nothing to be afraid of. Um but if we're going to shy away from listening to the community, there's a lot of people I could see that have reached out to me tonight. And um actually, you know what? I'm just going to go ahead and read something that I was sent as a member of the board. I'll just go ahead and read that tonight. If we're going to silence the community, I will read what was sent in. [clears throat] Dear current and incoming members of the Stone and Road Falls Board of
007Education, while I'm deeply saddened I couldn't make it this evening because I'm proudly celebrating my colleagues achievements and swearing into the Akran School Board, I still wanted to write an email because I feel it's important as a constituent of the community to voice my concerns. First, I believe transparency is so very important, especially in this political climate, both locally and nationally. I was disappointed to see the agenda was not out at at its regularly scheduled time, and that public's comments were left off the agenda until the last minute. I checked the website and it still stated the meeting was at the high school. We need community members to show up to these meetings no matter what your political aisle they fall on because Stow is a nonpartisan city. It's also equally important to hear from
008your constituents and public comment allows for that. Another point I want to make regarding transparency and nonpartisanship is how important it is to work together as a united front. While selecting leadership this evening, I believe it's important to consider qualifications, experience, and seniority. Choosing proper leadership can set a powerful and productive message to the community about willingness to work together as a united front and an equal body and set the tone of students first and trust. I want to remind the board that both Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Mr. Moyer in their campaign promises said they want to promote unity and nonpartisanship. Mr. Moyer stated above all in his promise is students first. I ask both of these new board members to continue to keep their campaign promises and show it tonight by electing leadership not
009based on personal opinion but facts like qualification, educ qualifications, experience, and seniority. Demonstrating a willingness to reach across the aisle will reinforce the goals of working together as a united front. It will also show that you're truly putting students first. I would also like to show the community, it would also show the community that you are willing to work together and who who are hopeful for a more unified and truly nonpartisan board moving forward. Thank you for all you do for the community and I truly hope that you can work together and keep the promises made to students and the community. Sincerely, Amy Mesmore Jones. See, I have another one here. >> Uh while you're looking for that, u we're talking about policy here. Um as Mr. Whitaker stated, he went back to 2013 that
010we've never had public comment during an organizational meeting. So, we're looking to change that based on feelings and based on opinion. >> We've had public comment um added based on feelings and opinion many times. I think Mr. Whitaker remembers that very clearly from when he was president, >> not at an organizational meeting. And the agenda was out. It was magically changed. And I want to know who changed it. I want to know who changed it. >> I already stated that. gave you the power to do that. >> I believe that you're also aware that any board member has the ability to ask that something's added. >> I have not had that opportunity in two years. So, don't give me that. >> Mr. Sheen, I think that you are sadly mistaken. >> No, I'm not sadly
011mistaken. >> Would you I am in favor of following protocol which is we have an organizational meeting that does not have public comments. >> Anyway, I will continue to take my time. >> Motion to end debate. No, I I would like that. Speaking >> I second that. >> Um is there time for uh comment on that? >> Germaine to the motion. >> So it's gerine to the motion that I still have um information about the the leadership that has been given provided to me that was to be stated this evening. The talk is about the comments are about Miss uh Merid's 10 years of experience on the Akran City Council, how she has more experience with Robert's rules than anyone else here. The it's about how she has won the most votes in the community
012more than anyone else up here. It's about how she uh is would be able to provide a nice compliment to um you as president who I intended to nominate because I think that compromise is important. But that it doesn't work one way. It works both ways and that I think that if you're going to sit up here and pretend like that you want to be a united front and have a different kind of year than we've had for a long time, it needs to be in a such a manner that you're willing to give as well as get. And that's that's all I have to say. >> I would like to ask just one question. What is unifying by uni about unilaterally changing the agenda without telling anyone that you did it? >> I I
013emailed and I actually copied Miss Merleti as well and it was up there on Sunday just for everybody else to see. It was published on Sunday. >> Is is is that >> as far as I was aware, you haven't even been sworn in on the board yet. So I >> I have been actually but is that not contrary to the protocol that you guys just put in in December? >> That's fine. That's fine with me. I I was not aware and did not notice that we missed that we did not have public comment. It was someone reached out to me actually multiple people reached out to me and asked me why comment wasn't on there and then I just said that I would add it because I have not um I do not believe that
014when the community wants to speak on an issue that it's right to silence them. I would rather have you be upset about it than have the community have their voices silenced. And that's fine with me. You can't just be doing things on your own. That's part of the issue here. You can't just be making stuff up. >> Yeah. >> Can you cite OC that tells me that I cannot add something to the agenda? >> Your own policies that you threw in my face for two years says you cannot make changes to the policy. You don't want to sit at home and make changes whenever you feel like it. >> At any rate, I've stated my piece. I I have repeated if you if I'm not allowed to go on, I'll continue to read all the
015different things that people have said as about leadership and bipartisan bipartisanship and unity. >> Do we have a vote on >> question by calling the question? >> Thank you. >> Do we have a vote on the motion to remove the public comment period? >> Roll call, please. >> Merleti I. >> Moyer, >> I. Sheen. >> And this is to remove the public comments. >> This is to remove the public comments. >> I vote to remove the public comments. >> Sua Dolnik. >> No. >> Motion carries. >> I'm sorry. >> I >> Oh, thank you. Sorry. >> Okay. I'd like to ask that the members be sure to talk close to the microphone. It is difficult to hear in this room and it is very difficult for anyone watching on YouTube to hear you if you
016do not speak directly into the microphone. Thank you. Uh let's stand for the pledge of allegiance. 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. [clears throat] Everything we do is designed to provide a future ready citizen uh student centered learning experience for every single child. Our strategic plan for 2021 to 2026 will help to accomplish this goal by considering every facet of the student learning experience from curriculum to infrastructure as well as diversity and inclusion and everything in between. As members of the board of education, we serve as trustees. Therefore, this is a business meeting being conducted in public, not a public meeting. We are grateful to serve and engage the community
017and therefore encourage and respect input from citizens. We expect that everyone present present will behave in a manner consistent with the behavior we expect of our students. We reserve the right to have those who did not comply removed from our meeting. So we will start with the oath of office for Jason Whitaker. Yes. if you go to the microphone and who is [clears throat] a fishing for you. Okay. Did you need a She's going to bring you a copy of the Please introduce yourself to for >> I'm Lisa Whitaker, Jason's wife. >> Go ahead. Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio? And that you will faithfully and impartially discharge your duties as a board member of the Board of Education
018of the Stow Monroe Falls City School District, Summit County, Ohio, to the best of your ability and in accordance with the laws now in effect and hereafter to be enacted during your continuence in said office and until your successor is elected and qualified. >> I do. Congratulations. [applause] >> Are they close enough to the mic? Are they close enough? Are you picking that up? >> Like to administer the oath of office for John Moyer. I believe we have Councilman Kyle Herman with us tonight. >> Please use the microphone. >> Okay. >> Ready? >> Am I close enough? >> Okay. Do you solemnly swear or affirm that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio? and that you will faithfully and impartially discharge your duties as board
019member of the board of education of the Stow Monroe Falls City School District, Summit County, Ohio, to the best of your ability and in accordance with the laws now in effect and hereafter to be enacted during your continuence in set office and until your successor is elected and qualified. >> I do. >> Congratulations. [applause] Okay, now I'm teaming. I'd like to thank Mayor Mites from Mineral Falls for joining us. >> Thank you. >> Do you solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio and that you will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties for the member board of education of Stoman Falls City School District. Ohio to the best of your ability and in accordance with the laws now in effect and hereafter to
020be enacted during the continuence in set office and until your successor is elected and qualified. >> I do. >> Congratulations. [applause] I'd like to entertain a motion for opening nominations for president of the school board. Second. >> So moved. >> Roll call. Merleti, >> yes. >> Lawyer, >> yes. >> Sheen, >> yes. >> Sua Dolnik, >> hi. >> Whitaker, >> I >> Okay, nominations are now open. Do I have any nominations for president of STEM fall school board? >> Yes, I'd like to nominate Jason Whitaker. >> I'd second that. >> Do I have any additional nominations for president? Seeing none, I'd like to entertain a motion to close the nominations. >> So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call. >> Matti. >> I >> Sheen. >> I >> Sue Dolnick. >> I Whitaker. >> I >>
021may we have time to comment before we vote on the president's. We have time to May we have discussion before we vote? >> We just voted. >> No, that was voting to close. >> That was voting. >> You want discussion before we >> before we vote on the president? Yes. >> Okay. >> I just wanted to say that I am I nominated uh Mr. Whitaker because I value experience on the board and I believe that we are in a place where uh it's critical that we have experienced leadership and I uh don't know that it's probably much of a secret that Mr. Whitaker and I have had a a rough back and forth past and yet I think that it's important to see past that and to nominate who I think is best for the
022position in the spirit of unity and in the spirit of making this a positive year for Stone Monroe Falls because we are uh tasked with putting students first. And I that is why I will go with uh a compromise in this circumstance because I think that unity involves doing something that isn't always comfortable. Thank you. Any other comments? >> Okay. >> Congratulations, Mr. Ricker. >> Thank you. We haven't voted, >> right? >> Motion to vote. >> Well, you don't need a motion to vote, but we would just need a vote by name. >> We just need a vote. >> Okay. Roll call. >> You just name. >> I'd like a motion to vote for president of the school board. [clears throat] >> Anyone? Second. >> So, >> Moratti, I >> Sheen. >> Um, Whitaker. >>
023That's technically correct. >> What's that? >> Okay. >> You need to say who you're vote. You need to say who you're voting for. >> Well, there only one nomination. >> It's fine. It's >> There was only >> Okay, occur. >> Okay. Sorry. Do you want me to restart though? Let's >> start that over. >> Is that okay? Okay. Okay. All right. Thank you. >> So, who are you voting for? >> Yeah, just say the name, please. Thank you. Merleti >> Whitaker >> Moyer >> Whitaker >> Sheen >> Whitaker. >> Sue Dolick. Whitaker >> and Whitaker. >> Whitaker. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> All right. >> Okay. Motion carries. Congratulations. >> [applause] >> I'm short. Thank you. >> Do and you know the answer is I do. Do you, Jason Whitaker, as board president, solemnly swear
024that you will support the Constitution of the United States in the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and that you will faithfully and impartially discharge your duties as board president of the board of education of the Stow Monroe Falls City School District in Summit County, Ohio, to the best of your ability and in accordance with the laws now in effect and hereafter to be enacted during your continuence in said office and until your success for success successor is elected and qualified. >> I do. >> Okay. Very good. Congratulations. Thank you. [applause] >> Are you We don't need to switch seats. We don't need to switch seats. >> He needs the cap. He needs the gap. All right. All right. Thank you. The next item on the agenda is nominations for president uh vice president of
025the board. At this time, I will take nominations. I don't think we need to move to open nominations. We just need to close them. So, I will take nominations for vice president of the board. >> I'd like to nominate Tina Mery. >> Right. Are there any? And and Mr. Mery, do you accept that nomination? >> I'll accept. >> Any other nominations? >> John Moyer. >> Mr. Moore, do you accept that nomination? >> Yes. Are there any other nominations? Do I have a motion to close nominations for vice president of the board for 2026? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Uh, roll call, please, unless there's any discussion. Roll call, please. >> Can I just I'm sorry. Who's who seconded the motion, please? >> And Mr. >> Mr. Shean, >> I'm sorry. Thank you. >> That
026would just be discussion on closing the motion on >> just just on closing the motion. >> Okay. >> Merleti, >> this is closing the or to close the motion. >> Moyer, >> I >> Sheen. >> I >> Suadnik. >> I Whitaker. I nominations are now closed. We are now um at the discussion point for the election of vice president of the board. Um nominations are Miss Meritty and Mr. Moyer. So the floor is open for discussion. >> Yeah, I'd like to take an opportunity to reiterate the overwhelming support that I have received for uh Ms. Meritty for uh vice president based on her um experience. I got I have several more emails if that I could read uh asking our board to honor the spirit of bipartisan leadership for president and vice president and to
027um honor your campaign promise of choosing what's best for students. And I think it would probably be very difficult to um to state that a brand new board member in their very first meeting with no experience um in this capacity should have a um you know better opportunity uh to to lead than someone who has been on the board, who has institutional knowledge, who has a longstanding history in this community, who has uh received the most votes in this community receiving very clear bipartisan support and that uh asking us to basically uh put up or shut up. It's we've had a rough year on this board all of us and I think I am what I am personally ready to put all of that in the past. I think that um showing the community, showing
028all these people who stood who came here who did not get a chance to speak, who stood wanted to come and say to you, to you, to you, to you, to me, to all of us. Let's just cut it out. Let's be bipartisan, not nonpartisan, bipartisan, because we all bring our our our bias to the table. But with that, we should be able to compromise. is we should be able to pick uh what's best for the district, what's best for students without without using that bias. And that's all I have to say. I'd like to speak up for John. Um John, a 34 33 year teacher certainly has the skills to uh lead a group to um respect uh the um the the group um to offer his expertise uh with his knowledge that he
029has brought not only to students but to coaches to other board members in his uh capacity as a leadership trainer which I think would be invaluable. able. Uh so by those few just just those two things right there make him more than capable to step into the shoes as far as a uh vice president of the board. >> I do actually I'm going to add one more thing to my comment. I do I actually I think that uh Mr. Moyer has a a lot to bring to this board. I'm grateful that he's here. I think that he has um a wealth of knowledge that we that will benefit students from his position on the board. That being said that the uh I did receive an email that I thought was very pertinent to it that
030stated um that states something. I I guess I I can't remember I can't find it. But the point was that board leadership is not about um being good at uh making relationships. Board leadership is about understanding the technicalities, understanding um what it means, understanding how to serve on the board. And you know, I've been through many people in their new position on the board. Myself, I've you know, been new to the board and I know what it how complicated it is just to get up to speed what it means to sit here behind this desk. It's not easy. It it requires lots of extensive training. It requires uh you know meeting with lots of people. It requires um understanding the the you know Robert's rules and parliamentary procedure procedure and you know I think that
031wiping out any institutional knowledge that the board has with Dr. Gould is a setback. I think that you will be a wonderful leader after you spend some time understanding what it means to be a board member getting used to what it means to sit at these meetings to deal with the community um responding to you. It's very different than um than the role of a teacher which is a very very admirable role. However, it's not the same. Um and you know my I've served for many different positions in this community but once I sat behind this desk it changed. everything changed. I had a lot to learn. And I think that um when the three of us had discussions about who we thought would be best to serve, um I recall first mentioning I thought
032you would be the the best leader. And your response to me was that you thought it was important to sit and listen and learn first. And I think that um I understand. I I took a step back. that's the and said to that's when I realized okay I will compromise I will support Mr. Whitaker. Um and then when we had a discussion I said I did not think that that was good for the community that it was going to be a fire brand that Mr. Whitaker might cause issues and because that happened before when you were president. Um however the response that I got back was why don't you be vice president then? And the conversations that we had were that maybe it would be best if someone from both sides stood together and made
033decisions together that it would signal to the people on this side of the room and that side of the room that we can find the solutions to work together. So you should too. And that's where I'm at with that. That has nothing to do with your ability to lead. I think you will grow into being an excellent leader. and I can't wait to vote for you as president someday. >> To to jump in, I just want to make it abundantly clear that we have two very caring, qualified people here, and there's no negative with either candidate. And from my perspective, sometimes you have to just kind of look at the situation as a whole. Look at everyone's experience in totality. It's hard to compare things that aren't related to board service on either side. But
034I think that everyone just needs to look at all of it. And that's what I'm going to look at when I when I make my vote, my decision is is all of it and say, "What do I think our board needs?" And that is not a knock on whoever doesn't get the vote. If I vote for Miss Meritty or if I vote for Mr. Moyer, that's not a knock on the other person because I think we have two very qualified people. And I think that demonstrating to the community that we're all working together in in in unison as a group doesn't necessarily mean all lock step all the time and everyone agreeing at 5-0. I think it means we have productive rational discussions. When the board votes, if the board votes 3 to2, 4:1, 5-0,
035everyone accepts the results of of that and and moves on. I lost a lot of 4 to1 votes when I was on the board and I just moved on and that was it. And so I think rather than focusing regardless of the results here, rather than focusing on one vote, I think we're going to have a repeated opportunity over the next 12 months to demonstrate whether we are rowing in the right direction or not. And so I I do want to make sure that it's clear that at least for me, regardless of who I end up voting for, whether I'm breaking a tie or whatever I'm doing, it's not that I think the other person doesn't deserve the position because I think we have two excellent people here at this stage that that have been
036nominated and would do well. That's my then that's my two cents. >> Mr. Whitaker, what's your position on experience um and leadership? Is it not that that your um opinion that you were the most qualified to be the president because you've had the most experience? >> I don't think I said that. I I think that I do feel like I have a significant amount of experience. I also have a legal background. I think when we look at again I don't want to get into weighing publicly each of our two candidates backgrounds because I don't think that's fair to them. This isn't a this isn't a microscope because am I trying to compare public and civic service with the city of with the city of Akran? Am I trying to compare 34 year 34 years of
037teaching civics and government? Um that's not for for me to do. I think that there's experience is is one level and there's a lot of things that we have to consider and focusing on one whether again whether they're whether they pull a D ballot or an R ballot in the primary season that's not of any consequence to me because I don't think either of the people that I'm looking at are hyperpolitical people and so I don't think they're defined by what ballot they pull in the primary and so I and I don't think I'm defined by that or or or you think what we do in our lives defines us. And so to answer your question, I think it's just not a one it's not a one quality vote. I think that ultimately it's going
038to be a whole person whole decision vote. >> Certainly, I understand that. But the the point that I think that I'm trying to make about unity and is that you have an opportunity here. There's a lot of people sitting here that believe that the three of you are going to be voting one way and the two of us are going to be voting another way. In fact, you spent most of your campaign talking about the political uh nature of the board and my um part in that. And I think that being able to um look at each other and say let's put that in the past is a is a big deal and I've done that and I'm asking you to do the same. >> Let me comment. All of a sudden we're hearing the
039words unity and partisan. We didn't hear those words at all the last two years. Um, also the fact I'm looking to vote for the best person, as Mr. Whitaker said, we're not looking to break down their resumes at this point, but it just amuses me that all of a sudden uh because of fear of losing power, let's call it what it is, that we got to start throwing these words out there that really mean nothing >> because they haven't meant anything about I'm I'm speaking. >> I appreciate >> I have the floor. I'm speaking. [sighs] >> Um, so again, I'm looking to vote for the person for the for the best person for the job regardless of whatever else you want to twist and turn. Um, as far as reasons to make us look bad
040because we may happen to vote for one person over another. >> I appreciate you calling it out that it's about power. Thank you for that. >> Hello, I'm John and just to talk a little bit about myself, I I'm willing to serve in whatever capacity this board deems to see fit. Thank you. >> Is there any further discussion? >> I'd like to thank Miss Sunarnick for her support and her nomination. um if I'm chosen, I would look forward to continuing to serve in um whichever capacity this board chooses for me. Thank you. >> I apologize. Any further discussion on this? I thought we were paused, but All right. All right. Seeing [clears throat] that there's no more discussion, I guess we will call the role uh for the vote. If if you could indicate whether
041you were voting for Miss Meritty or Mr. Moyer when your name is called. Yes, thank you. Merleti Merleti Moyer >> Sheen >> Moyer >> Sue Dominic >> Whitaker >> Moyer. >> Congratulations to both of you for putting yourselves forward. It's now time to administer the oath of office for the vice vice president. So Do you, John Moyer, as board vice president, solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and that you will faithfully and impartially discharge your duties as board vice president of the board of education of the Stow Monroe Falls City School District, Summit County, Ohio, to the best of your ability and in accordance with the laws now in effect and hereafter to be enacted during your continuence in said office
042and until your successor is elected and qualified. >> I do. >> Congratulations. Thank you. [applause] All right, we have reached the portion of our meeting where we have several votes on various things that the state requires us to vote on at this time before we get to the middle of the month. So, item 10 on the agenda is the establishment of the board service fund for $20,000 in accordance with Ohio Revised Code 33151 uh5. Do I have a motion to establish that service fund? >> So moved. >> Second. >> I think M. Midy was first there. All right. Any discussion on the motion uh to establish that service fund? >> Uh yes. I would like this motion to be tabled for further review. um this particular section 3515.15 has not been looked at or revised
043for a long long time. There's a number of [clears throat] things um that I would like to see us discuss and and review before uh approving this for another calendar year. >> I'm going to take that as a motion to uh table this u is there a second before we discuss All right. Hearing >> Can I Can I Did you make the motion? >> You made You made the motion and I was asking for a second. >> Okay. >> Um, one thing I will say um because now I think we're in the discussion phase is that the statute requires that we do this uh by the middle of the month. That does not change the board's ability to revisit at any time a motion to alter the the service fund, increase it, do anything that
044the board might want to do. But we are required by statute to to establish it I think before the 15th of the month if I'm correct. So we have to do it tonight. Um but again that wouldn't stop us from at some point if someone wanted to change the service fund by asking that at a future meeting. >> Well it's neighbor changing it. It's just I'm using the word update. I mean I think there's things that some of these things in here are kind of archaic. So what is my guarantee? I guess I don't get one or have one that that this will be revisited that we can look at it and revise it. >> I don't know that any anyone could give a guarantee. I think what we have to do is we are
045statutoily obligated to do it. Our next meeting isn't until the 20th of the month. Um and so we do have to do it by the 15th. Um if you would like to move to amend portions of it now, we could look at them. Um, but we do have to approve this service fund tonight. >> Yeah, if you want to do it, I can. Um, I I don't know. Everyone doesn't have a copy of it, so that we're kind of hindering as far as being able to do that. Well, let me do this in the sake of time and that everyone does not have a copy of it. Um, I will have to just trust the fact that we'll be able to get this back on the agenda and uh discuss it and bring it up
046to date [snorts] at a future meeting. >> Any further discussion on item 10. Roll call, please. >> Matti, >> I >> Sheen, >> no. Suadomic. >> Hi, >> Whitaker. >> I [clears throat] motion carries 4 to one. We are now on number 11, which are our standing authorizations. And I apologize, this will take me a second. There's 12 of them. Um, where the board is being recommended to authorize the treasur to secure position bonds as prescribed by the Ohio Revised Code 331325 for board president in the amount of $50,000. superintendent, assistant superintendent, director of operations in the amount of $50,000 and treasur in the amount of $100,000. Two, authorize a superintendent and treasur to enter into and or accept participate in federal, state, or local grants or agreements and authorize the treasurer to appropriate funds
047for the grants awarded. Three, authorize the treasurer to file requests for amendments to the of the certificate of estimated resources with the county auditors as information becomes available to the treasurer to warrant such a filing. Four, authorize a superintendent or treasurer to accept all donations to the school district on behalf of the board of education. Five, authorize the treasurer to make fund to fund advances, advance returns, and transfers as needed throughout the year. Six, authorize a treasurer to invest interim and inactive funds in permissible investments pursuant to board policy and as prescribed by the Ohio Revised Code sections 135.07, 135.13, 135.14, and 3313051. Seven, authorize a treasurer to sign all checks drawn on bank accounts of the school district as prescribed by the Ohio Revised Code section 331308. Eight. Authorize the treasur to borrow funds
048in anticipation of future tax receipts as permitted by the Ohio Revised Code section 13324 at the best available rate for cash flow purposes. Nine, authorize the treasurer to convene the meeting of the records commission not limited to but at a minimum annually. 10. Authorize the superintendent and treasurer to employ such temporary personnel as needed in emergency situations as prescribed by Ohio Revised Code 331910. Such employment will be presented to the board of education for approval at the next regular meeting. 11. Authorize the treasurer to pay all bills within limits of the appropriations resolution as prescribed by Ohio Revised Code 331318 as bills are received under the assumption that goods received or services performed are acceptable. And 12, approved membership in the Ohio School Board Association pursuant to Ohio Revised Code 331387. Um, do I have
049a motion to recommend all of those sanding authorizations? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Yes. I would like to have number 12 pulled from the standing authorizations. >> All right. So, what we're going to do, I think I'm required to pull we can vote on one through 11 and then we'll vote on one on number 12 separately. Um, so With Mr. Sheen's request, um we have a motion to modify the request to produce these standing authorizations. >> Yeah, these are standard um authorizations that we normally have and we are members of the Ohio School Board Association currently. Um so you're asking to we have to vote on all of them. I I think it'll be just my my assumption is going to be that there's going to
050be two separate votes that one votes probably going to be unanimous and the other one will not. But we will vote on them. >> Okay, understood. >> Given that we don't have unan unonyimity on number 12, I think I do need to pull it and have it voted on separately so as not to jeopardize the other 11. Do I have a motion to segregate uh number 12 into a separate vote? >> So moved. >> Second. Any discussion on items 1 through 11? Hearing none. Roll call, please. >> Mleti. >> I. >> Moyer. >> I. >> Sheen. >> I. >> Suonic. >> I. >> Whitaker. >> I. Motion carries. 5. Now we are on item 11, standing authorization number 12, which is approve the membership in the Ohio School Boards Association pursuant to Ohio Revised Code
051331387. Do I have a motion to approve that standing authorization? >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Yes. I'm um this has been something I've been fighting as far as this particular um authorization. Uh when I look at the policy number 0154, this has not been updated or changed since 2005. Um I don't know at that time, but uh I don't know if at that time when this was set up that that the OSBA was the only organization out there. Uh but I do know that there are several other organizations that do provide this type of uh training and uh things that the OSBA can offer. Um to just have a blanket renewal of this, which by the way, it's $10,200 for us to um to continue our membership with that. Uh I think
052there should be the opportunity to discuss um or what we would have to do to open up the uh board to other alternatives and not be forced to pay and renew our membership. Um, we also are potentially in a uh litigation situation where because there are other organizations that provide this service, if we are solely just forced to pay for an organization, we could be guilty of intellectual discrimination. So, um, and then also just from a kind of a from a personal standpoint, um, I can't I can't in good conscience give a special interest group that fundamentally opposes our community values, especially that of parental rights. The OSBA has ruled by socialists and is against every child in Ohio. If the board renews their contract, it will show the board is more concerned about their
053image than the students we have pledged to protect. >> [snorts] >> I' I'd like to offer a counterpoint that Ohio School Boards Association represents over 700 public schools in Ohio with over 3,500 individual school board members. Um it is not a um ideological group. It is a group that uh represents public schools and advocates for public schools across the state of Ohio. And it's um only recently become a hot button issue by other people who are trying to make it political uh such as Moms for Liberty or this other group that I know that you're interested in as a National School Board Leadership Council which is um essentially a hate group. So um >> can you back that up? Do you have evidence of that? >> I have Do you have evidence of that? >>
054That's what that is my personal belief. the same as you believe that Ohio School Boards Association is a socialist group. So, we'll call that even. You prove one. You prove you prove yours and then I'll prove mine. >> No, I asked you first. >> You made an accusation against a group that has not one does not have anything to do with the other. And you have nothing to back it up with. >> No, I said I feel >> it. It >> that's been there's there's a lot of uh information that about uh NSB >> and I see that. >> Excuse me. I have the floor. Thank you. Um I there there's things that an uh National School Board Leadership Council um advocates for that go in direct um opposition to what uh public school represents.
055Number one, I think is um the way they handle disability services and being highly against inclus inclusive classrooms. um they advocate against English second language um and providing services which actually is illegal for public schools not to uh provide and there are any number of of issues that all you need to do is go to their website it's national school boards leadership council so if anybody wants to uh to look at that um they are affiliated with like I said before they're affiliated with moms for liberty and their stated goal is um to take back public school um for parental rights and they use a lot of buzzwords that um I find personally very offensive um and detrimental to the success of students. >> Uh two things. We're not here to discuss the the other
056groups. All right. First of all, secondly, um I will ask you to confirm and to validate that there is a relationship between Mons for Liberty and the National School Board Leadership Council. And I will say I am a firm believer in what the minds for liberty stand for. So that would further that would further support my case. All I'm looking to do here is to say that we are in a position when there are other organizations in the state that offer the same kind of things that the OSBA offers that we are potentially um going to be sued for intellectual discrimination because of the fact that we are being forced to pay a membership when there are other organizations that do the same thing. >> Mr. Sheen, did do you uh were you granted permission
057to pull that from standing authorizations? Was I what? >> Were you granted the permission to pull that from standing authorizations? That item item 12. >> Was I what? >> I I asked to have it pulled. >> Yes. >> So that would be correct. You were granted permission to pull that and vote on it separately, which means nobody is forcing you to vote on that on OSBA. No one is requiring any board to approve OSBA. That will come down to a vote from the five of us. And each one of us will have an equal say on if we join OSBA or not. No, that's wrong. It said in policy 0154 that we shall at the organizational meeting join the OSBA. That that is saying we we we are supposed to we are we're we're bounded
058by we're we're we need to that needs to be changed policy per board policy. Yeah. And you have right to bring board policy to the policy committee and I do believe that we recently revised that. Um each individual board has the capacity to revise and update policy as need be. And I would recommend that uh that we move that to the policy committee to further look into it if that's >> sure. That's why I'm asking it to be pulled. But and I don't want to deprive Mr. Moy or Miss Meritty of jumping in here, but I want to give them a chance. >> Yeah. I just I don't know if it's germaine, but when I when I look at Ohio Revised Code 3313.87, 87. It says, quote, "By majority vote, a board of education may
059join a school board's association." So, the way I read that is that we can decide whether or not collectively as a group whether to join the OSBA or not, but that seems to be in conflict with the policy that was just referred to that says shall. >> Yes. >> Is there inconsistency [snorts] there? >> Yep. based on those two. I'm just wondering that >> uh local your home rule can supersede the OC in that circumstance. >> It does it supersede or it can do >> it can. >> So it does in this case our board our board policy would supersede OC in this circ actually Mr. Whitaker would you weigh in on that? Yeah, thanks. >> Again, I don't want to jump in with Tina if you want to jump in, but essentially our board
060policy does require that we do this there. It we we may need to review review that the board can choose to review that, but that is a three- reading type of thing. And so, as we sit here today with this standing authorization in front of us, um, and I don't think Mr. Sheen's going to like what what I have to say here, but I mean, I think we we are in the moment. our board policy says we shall join the OSBA. Um the one thing that I don't think is present in the discussion is and and and maybe we could hear from I don't want to put anybody on the spot but you know maybe we could hear from from Dr. Gold or Treasure about other the OSBA is not just for the people sitting
061at this stage. There are services that we would get like leadership services or training or um you know potential legal services but what I would never want to do here as a policy board is cut the knees off you know cut at the knees our administrators and our teachers without having a full discussion on that. So I don't again I would invite you to speak but I'm not asking you to step out and do that if you don't want to. So OSBA provides um information not just for the board but also for cabinet leaders. So we are also a member of OSBA. It provides professional development for us. It provides a legal assistance fund for the school district. So there are other entities that it provides outside of just board members being a portion of
062that. And then of course they hold the capital conference each year which all of the school boards in the state of Ohio attend along with the superintendent, treasure and other members of cabinet team. That may also provide us with legislative updates regularly and so we can keep track of all the changes that we receive from the state of Ohio. They also have uh like a lunch and learn um virtual uh webinars for members that you can just take an hour and get up-to-date information on the changes that are going on in the state. Uh and uh it has been extremely helpful as a new board member to have that training and to learn all the nuances that go on with school boards. And the conference is extremely helpful to meet with all those different school
063board members from all over the state. we're all dealing with the same issues and to see the differences in how people handle uh the situations that we are all dealing with and the mandates that come down from the state on a regular basis. So um it has really been an extremely helpful organization. >> Can I ask the question? Uh Mr. She and you refer to the price of the OSBA at it's 10,146. Does that include all the things we're talking about here for the district? Yeah. Thank you. >> Uh no it doesn't because when we go to the conference now the extra costs if we have any kind of seminars or workshops that's an extra cost. >> You're speaking to the capital conference that is like with the hotel and that and there is a
064fee just to pay because it is several days long. um they do help schools um professionals. They give us um the legal advice. They also help support a lot of the bills that have been going to protect public schools and to help us with the funding. They also collaborate with um OASBA, which is another professional organization that's very helpful. So, they combine those those powers together and help legislate for public schools. um very beneficial, very knowledgeable um especially with the legal as well and the update the monthly updates and the lunch and learn. So it's very very beneficial. Um the price of the membership is also based on the school ADM. So if you're looking at other schools, what are their costs? They could be different from what ours is because it's all based on
065your total enrollment of schools and that's what they oversee and that's usually why it could be more if your enrollment is higher and less if your enrollment is less. Also, >> I'd like to Mr. Sheen, have you ever attended any of their workshops or >> As a matter of fact, I have and you guys used it to try to censor me. So, I attended two of them and um so that was the sole purpose for it. Uh so that that was did not leave me a good taste. Plus, I had called them four different times for help on some items and all and it took about a week to get back to me and I was just given a um a link to Ohio Revised Code. I wouldn't have needed them to do that. So,
066I said my personal experiences have not been very good with the OSBA. >> Can you describe what you mean by censoring you? what happened in that circumstance. >> Uh I I um I don't remember the date, but it's it's on video if you guys want to go and watch it. I'm not going to waste time talking about that. >> Is there any further discussion? And again, I understand that we we probably have, you know, not unanimity on unonymity on this, but um I guess from my standpoint going to go back to the policy. The policy that we have in place says that we shall do it. I'm open later to a discussion about whether we should change that to May. Um but the policy as it currently sends says stands says that we shall do
067it. So if there's any other discussion, we should entertain that. Otherwise, I would ask for a roll call. Merleti. >> Hi. >> Moyer. >> I >> Sheen. >> Nope. >> Sulonic. >> I >> Whitaker. >> I next item on the agenda is item 12, representation of legal counsel. Uh where the board is it's recommended that the board of education approve the following list of law firms for legal counsel representation during 2026. Uh those legal councils are identified as Weston Herd, NS Britain and Bricker Greatton. Do I have a motion to approve that list of firms? >> Tennessee and Andress on my list as well. >> So moved. >> Just second. >> All right. U just for a point of clarity. So the one I printed today at 3:45 does not have Russell on it. Is
068there a later one that does? >> It's online currently. >> Right. And I didn't see it either. So >> I'm just >> Is that We had there was an update that that one the Russell and Andrew was missed and so that needed to be >> Why don't we do this then? Um because it's not on anyone. I can entertain a motion to add Russell and Andrew to that list. Okay. >> Do I have such a motion? >> I I'd like to know why. We have a motion right now for discussion. I'd like to know why Wretzel is on there. >> Um it was missed for litigation purposes. >> Okay. That's a current. That's an old woman. >> So, it's a And I'm sorry. >> So, they're not being added for anything else except for the
069one. >> That's okay. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> If I may add to I I had already asked uh Miss Molnar to give an update on what these are for when it's time. So, that'll come up in discussion. >> All right. So, can I have a motion or do I have a motion to add Russell and Andress to this list? >> So, moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Um unless there's discussion, roll call, please, to add them to that list. >> Okay. Mleti I. Moyer >> I >> Sheen >> I >> Suadelmic >> I >> Whitaker >> I All right. So now we are at the point where the motion as amended is I think up for discussion. I don't know if we moved and seconded it. I apologize but I think
070we're up for discussion on whether to approve these four firms. >> Correct. Miss let >> Did you want me to? Yes. So the three usually school districts always have more than one for various reasons whether it's workplace HR for everyday needs um for bonds levies different things. So that's why we have three on retainer. It's not that we're actively using all three. We have to request to have legal counsel approved if and when we need them. Some of them as like is ongoing so it has to be on there as well. Any other discussion? And and this list obviously is subject to change at any time the board votes on it. So as it stands right now, um I think we have need for keeping all four of these terms at the moment. So >>
071is there any other discussion? Absent any other discussion. Uh roll call, please. >> Matti. >> I Sheen. >> Hi. >> Sudden. >> Whitaker. I next item on the agenda is the superintendent uh committees. We'll turn it over to Dr. G. That's >> Yes, these are the superintendent committees. These committees are based on advising the superintendent in these following areas. Uh legislative uh representative that is the um for the board to have a legislative representative. uh mental, social, uh emotional health which is uh led by Christy Pro. Policy committee is led by myself. The safety committee is led by our operations director. Technology committee is led by our IT director Josh Kramer. And the finance committee is led by the uh treasur. Again, these these committees advise the superintendent. What we normally had done in the
072past was vote to approve the committees and then um have a quick discussion about assigning board members to them. And unless there's any objection to that um or discussion on this those committees uh I would call for a role. >> Merleti >> I >> Sheen >> I >> Sulaonic >> I Whitaker >> I thank you. Those committees are now established. If we want to have a brief discussion uh now about assigning board members to them. Uh if that's appropriate, we can do that. Now, Miss Sue, Miss Lady, you have been on committees. Um I don't have them memorized as to which ones you're on. If you want to keep those, I don't have an issue with that. >> So, currently I'm on the legislative committee, the safety committee, and the finance committee. And um I'd
073like to remain on those. >> I think the only issue here is that we can't have more than two. >> It's two per correct. Okay. The legislative one is the representative from the board for OSBA purposes. >> That is not a superintendent committee. >> Missolic, are you on any committee you like? currently on policy, but I am open to change to whatever best uh fits this current board. >> I don't have a p for a specific need to be on any. I do recommend I would say I would I would ask that that Miss Merlly if possible stays on safety with her background. That's that would be one thing I find important. >> Mr. Um, I'm currently on the safety which I'd like to stay and um, yeah, the policy committee looks like a good
074one. >> Mr. Sheen would like to join the policy committee. Um, Miss Suic and I do you want to select your committees? I'm happy to have you do that. No, I'm the only one that I would I policy was the only other one that I would want to be on, but if that's what Mr. Sheen picked, then it's fine. Otherwise, I don't I mean, I don't have a >> two. >> Can I have two? >> Two. >> Okay. >> All right. All right. So, Miss Wolick will stay on the policy committee with Mr. Sheen. >> Um, Mr. lawyer. >> I'm interested in uh mental and social emotional health and I'm interested in finance and where else there might need to be someone but those two are interesting to me and I desire to serve on
075both of those. >> All right. I will fill the gap and serve on the technology committee. Um >> are you sure you don't want to be on policy? your background definitely seems more >> fitting for policy. >> I'll opt out if you want to be on that one. >> It doesn't matter to me. I I think that I think that you know that that pol these committees are for the superintendent's benefit. Um and if it's felt that I would be beneficial to the committee, I'm happy to do that. you want do you I mean >> well then why don't I do policy with Miss Su Hadidnik and I'll do technology and then um Mr. Sheen if you would like to join technology or uh mental social >> uh tech >> all right so Mr. She
076will join me on technology. Um, and so if I understand it correctly, >> did you want me to be on mental health then for there to be a second there? >> If you want a second. Yes, that's fine. >> Okay. >> All right. Just so just so we're clear, um, Miss Meritty will remain the legislative representative to the OSBA. Mr. Moyer, Miss Su Dolnik will be on the mental, social, health, emotional health committee. Uh myself and Miss Suedonic will be on the policy committee. Uh Ms. Merlly and Mr. Sheen will be on the safety committee. Myself, Mr. Sheen will be on the technology committee. And Ms. Meritty and Mr. Moyer will be on the finance committee. Did I get that correct? All right, >> Mr. Sheen, thank you for that and for taking a step
077back for Mr. Whitaker. >> Thank you. >> All right. Next item on the agenda is the board meeting dates. Uh board of education meeting dates. >> Mr. Whitaker, I'm sorry, we have one question. So, is Miss Marleti staying as the legislative representative? Okay. >> Didn't get that. Thank you. Sorry about that. >> That's okay. >> All right. So, the next item is the board of education meeting dates for 2026. I think everyone's been seeing this list circulated for some time. Um, do I have a motion to approve that meeting uh list? >> So, moved. >> Is there a second? >> Do we want to? >> Okay. Uh, second. All right. Uh, we are now open for discussion. Um, I had one thought that I would like to just put out to the group. Um, you
078know, we have, um, as much as I've enjoyed our interim treasurer tonight, uh, we do have a need to fill that spot permanently. Um, in looking back at past treasurer searches, um, as a board, we have taken sometimes 30 to 45 days to go from we need to start this process to hiring a search firm to help us. Uh, the thought would be um that potentially someone could reach out, whether it's myself, Dr. somebody at the superintendent's office can reach out to the various options, finding leaders, Summit County, ESC, OSBA, see if they were available to provide us with presentations. Um, we could do that on the 20th, the meeting at the 20th. Um, the thought would be is that to see if there was any interest if we could get them in faster to
079adding a meeting at some point mid to late next week. I understand that that's only a few extra days, but I feel like we're a little bit on borrowed time because I think that the approved the last board approved the interim treasurer through the 15th of February. And my concern is that by waiting to the 20th to approve a search firm, assuming we do one exactly that night, we've already kind of blown a week. So that's just a thought. I know everyone have to look at their calendars, but potentially adding if we did it now, we wouldn't need to call it a special meeting and do anything like that. So that's just a thought on my on my part. It could be a bad thought. >> An agreement till February 20th. >> February 20th. >>
080I do believe too there there's opportunity to extend that at some point to a limit. Not not a lot but a little. >> But I would support adding a date. >> It's it's up to again we can move to amend if everyone feels like they have availability that week. I don't know whether I feel like these presentations probably are something that they have ready to go when someone needs them. Um whether the presenters are available is a different story. I just the thought was that if we had another option, we could probably accelerate that. I know when we did a treasurer search in 2019, we lost literally 45 days before we finally approved someone. And so 45 days from now puts us into midFebruary, late February. And I'd add we're on borrowed time anyway as
081this is the time when people are looking to fill those positions or looking looking for those kind of jobs if they're actually looking. So >> if there's no availility availability around the table that's fine but if there is you know again that was just a point of discussion. So we could either approve it as is without a motion to modify to add a date or we could add a date. >> I would say based on why we set this one up the way it is that we should put the date on there now. Um, I don't know if we if if we want to put at a motion, but I was going to say January 12th, which is next Monday. Um, if we found that it wasn't going to be worthwhile, at what point would
082we have to announce that meeting being cancelled? Would that be by the 10th? >> We could really cancel I think same same day. >> Same day. We wouldn't want our the our attendees to to have it on their calendar, but I think >> No, I'm talking about if if we don't have any if we don't have any um action, if we don't have any any presentations >> legally, I believe we could cancel the meeting up to the point that we commence the meeting, but we wouldn't want to do that to our people. But, um I know Mr. Moyer and I are supposed to be in Auburn Township um or Concord Township on the other ESC board training um that night. So, Oh, >> on the 12th. >> Oh, okay. And I do want to add
083I think it'd be I mean you can always put on for a special meeting. Um but just the turnaround time for everyone to get present. I'm not sure if that I mean sometimes it can be done but >> for now I guess then why don't we just leave it as it is and then if the opportunity arises um we can all reach out and and figure out if we can convene a meeting. Um, I know last time we had to do several meetings to get them all in because of availability. So, all right. So, we have a motion. Is there any further discussion on these meeting dates? >> I have a couple. Um, so looking at September dates, we have the 8th, which is the Tuesday after Labor Day, and then six days later, we
084have another meeting on the 14th. And I was wondering if there's any reason for the closed spacing as opposed to the 21st of September. That's my first question. I don't know why those dates were chosen so closely together. I didn't put this together. Anybody have >> I think that's an erum, Mr. Moria. I think it should have been the 22nd. >> Um, so so that means it should be the 21st. >> 21st. Yes. >> Yeah. So, I don't know what to do from here, but I think the 21st is the date that makes more sense than the 14th. >> And if that's a a typographer, then we can fix that. >> Yes. >> Right. >> Anybody? Everybody can fix that. >> And then the other one I had was similarly uh the next month five
085and 12, >> right? October >> a week apart and then we don't have anything until the the 2nd of November the 19th. It seemed sensible to me. I was trying to figure out if that date should be the 19th and not the 12th. >> Well, now >> that may be because of capital conference. >> That's November, >> correct? >> Yes. >> November 16th, 17th, and 18th at the capital conference. >> Is is that because they moved the five-year forecast approval deadline into October? Didn't they do that? >> It could be, >> which we need to do by the 15th of October. >> The three-year forecast. between your >> It's three now. >> I I'm forever gonna say five years. >> All right. All right. So, um with the understanding that the typographical error on it
086is getting corrected, um unless there's any other discussion, I would call for the role on the meeting dates as presented. >> Okay. >> Merleti. >> I >> Sheen. >> I >> Sulaonic. I >> Whitaker >> I. >> Next item on the agenda is setting the board compensation uh member compensation at $80 per meeting effective January 1, 2026. Do I have a motion to approve that uh compensation? >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? I think this is stagnant from past years. >> It is stagnant. just to point out we have not had an increase and as far as I've been aware on the board and I'm not asking for one. Um but just to so people are aware local six within the six district compact I think we're the lowest. Um we but just
087so everyone's aware we are we we are not >> Yeah. Yeah. We can go up to 125 and uh nobody that I'm aware of has ever voted to give themselves an increase. I think we're content being very well underpaid but that's okay. We're public servants. We're not here for money. >> Any other discussion? Roll call, please. >> Matti, >> I. >> Moyer, >> I. >> Sheen. >> I. >> Suedonic. >> Hi, >> Whitaker. >> I. Right. Next item on the agenda, item 16, appointment of staff. Um, this is recommending to the appointment of the following staff for the staff positions. Um, I can read them or Dr. Gold, you can read them. Read them. All right. We have appointment of the Title N hearing officer, Michael Love. Appointment of Title N coordinators, Michael Love, Angie
088Farnath, Steve Dietrich, Mary K. Zoric, and Jean Jeannie Neil. If I butcher someone's name, I apologize. Uh, number three, the anti-harassment compliant officer will be Michael Love. Uh the 504 ADA compliant officers will be Kristen Pro and Dana Pazani. The civil rights coordinator is Alex Burquette. Homeless liaison is Kristen Pro. And the suspension appeal officer as designate for the board is listed as Kristen Pro. Do I have a motion to approve that list of staff? >> So moved. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Discussion. Roll call, please. >> Matti. I >> lawyer. >> I >> Sheen. >> I >> Suladonic. >> I >> Whitaker. >> Item 17 on the agenda, the order of voting for motions and resolutions in 2026. Essentially recommends that it's alphabetical order except with the exception of the board
089president who will vote last and that Robert's rules order shall prevail in determining all boarding board meeting procedural questions. Do I have a motion to approve this uh item on the agenda? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Discussion. >> Roll call, please. >> Merleti. >> I. >> Moyer. >> I. >> Sheen. >> I. >> Suedonic. >> I. >> Whitaker. >> Item 18. I will turn it over to our treasurer. Yes. So, as far um as my first recommendation to the board, it's for the fiscal 27 alternative tax budget as presented. An attachment in the agenda. >> Do I have a motion to approve that recommendation? >> So move. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Matti. >> Hi. >> Moyer. >> I. >> Sheen. Hi >> Suladonic. >> Hi >>
090Whitaker. >> I >> and the second um for B the authorization of advance of local taxes for summit in Portage County >> and those are attached to the agenda. >> Yes, those are attached as well. >> Do I have a motion to approve those items as presented? >> So move. >> Second. All right. >> Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Okay. Hi >> Moyer. >> I >> Sheen. >> Hi >> Suadonic. >> Hi >> Whitaker. >> I >> thank you. >> All right. Next item of business is new business. Um it's listed as board priorities for 2026. Feels a little early for this, but um we're just getting together for the first time, but open the floor for discussion on this new business item. This is something that was added a few years ago. Um,
091I have not put much thought into my board priorities for the years. It's our first meeting. Also, I I think it might be good for us to to revisit this unless anybody has any right off the right out of the gate, but I think, you know, board unity is obviously one for all of us. >> I have I don't know if anybody else wanted to go first. >> Go ahead. >> Okay. Um yes, I this is my third time and I was caught off guard a little bit uh the first few times and so I did take a priority to um give this some thought and these are just some of the things I that I had written written down. Um as far as my priorities uh create an educational environment built on success through
092achievement and tangible accomplishments. Uh the district needs to achieve 100% of third graders able to read and 100% of our juniors and seniors achieving an SAT score high enough to qualify for enrollment at Ohio universities if that's the direction they may choose to take. Uh anything less is unacceptable. Uh the removing of the district pedagogy uh with any influence of seal castle or savvis they promote anti-family and anti-American first values. Replace Chromebooks with paper and pencil. Eliminate the evasive student surveys and evaluations. Um, as a continued focus, put the family first and the school to be just a tool. Address what the true meaning of building self-esteem. Shouldn't self-esteem build on itself as students develop their talents and tools while learning how to succeed and fail on their own merits? >> [snorts] >> Do you
093have any quantifiable um ways you would uh plan to achieve those goals? >> Not right now. >> I think for me just a lot of the things that I would say would probably be something that I would rather say in terms of our strategic plan um because I think they're more idealistic. Like for me, I rather I don't know that eliminating the Chromebooks and returning to pen pen and pencil. I would rather see less screen time, especially for younger kids. I don't think that's controversial. You know, finding ways to get, you know, more activity, recess time, that type of stuff. But I don't know that that's a and that's an appropriate discussion for I think that's more of an ideal or a goal to be discussed as part of a strategic plan. You know, certainly
094I think um punting some of this discussion for more deliberation and more discussion is is a helpful suggestion um because I think that just getting together and everyone all of us throwing out our ideas isn't it's hard to have a concrete discussion that way. So >> yeah, I'll add on the strategic plan. I we have limited resources. We have limited time and a strategic plan in any organization informs the direction that it goes. So when deciding less technology or more or you know different forms of teaching or emphasis on some academics uh having a strategic plan in place I think helps to figure out what do we say yes to and what do we say no to and so I'm looking forward to being part of that strategic plan that offers us uh with community
095input a roadmap going forward and then it makes tough decisions that we have to make a little bit easier because it's tied to an agreed upon uh preferred future that we've all come to. So that would be my thought on that. >> Dr. W, can you remind us when uh the timeline for the the strategic plan if that's something you have available to you? >> So in this month um we will have our two new board members will be uh engaging in the activity with uh the impact group. Uh we will also meet with student groups uh this month and we will also have a parent and community uh open uh forum as well. We've already done our surveys. We've already done focus groups with staff and PTA council. Uh and once we uh finish
096all of that, we will uh then compile all of that information and start to see um what areas are coming out of those themes. Uh as Mr. Moyer has said that is really the road map for the district because then that will align what our goals and objectives are and really give us some measurable um uh I call them key performance indicators to really uh work toward for the next five years. >> Pardon me. Sorry. >> How has engagement been so far? >> Oh, engagement has been great. We've had uh uh all of our staff uh have been involved uh and we've had over a thousand people who responded to the uh survey that went out to the staff and the community. Um, I'd like to see us, uh, explore alternative sources of funding, uh,
097engage the community, our alumni, and, um, so that we're not solely dependent on taxpayer dollars for everything that we do. Uh I realize having looked at some of our facilities plans that uh we're going to have to focus energy on um warm, safe, and dry. As we keep hearing uh from our facilities people uh looking at the roofs and uh some major structures uh in our buildings that need attention. Uh including addressing the issues with the fieldhouse and whether or not um we can find somebody to uh help us complete that space uh at the fieldhouse. um whether you agreed with building it or not, we have it now, so we need to deal with it. Um and um I believe Mr. Shehan and I are really on opposite ends of the spectrum as far
098as technology goes. I believe that we need to embrace AI. It's here and it's here to stay. And we need to teach our children how to address the issues of technology because they're going to have to deal with it one way or another in order for them to be competitive out in the workforce. They're going to have to learn the pros and the cons. I think there are a lot of positive ways that it can be used by our staff, the teachers, and it can be used in the classroom, and it's something that we need to embrace. The state of Ohio is actually requiring us by July 1st to have an AI plan. So, I look forward to exploring uh how we are going to address that as a school district. anything further? >> I
099had one while she was speaking and then I forgot. I'll say it eventually. >> We'll have plenty of opportunities. One thing for me is that, you know, I I think that I've appreciated the the organic way that the discussion in this meeting has kind of gotten to the point where we we've have an actual discussion here where everyone's throwing things out and we may have disagreements, but I we are getting there. And did you remember it? >> I did remember. Before I continue, I'll let you do it. >> I just want to say I uh I I have been approached many times over the the years about looking into um helping out our orchestra program. I know we do focus a lot on on the arts. Um but I think there's sometimes people feel that
100we do a little bit more with the band and less with the orchestra and and I I just wanted to I don't not making any promises. I just wanted to look into it a little bit. Anyway, and and the last point, no, the last point is that for me before we get to our last uh item here is, you know, remembering as each of us talk, myself included especially, is that, you know, everything that we do up here is going to impact people's daily jobs and their careers and their lives and, you know, their education. And we need to be kind of focused and mindful about some of the words that we each use. Again, I'm doing this for myself, an exercise for myself as well, and being mindful of of, you know, maybe some
101of the criticisms that come out uh from the board that might seem directed at various people because I think that when they watch our meetings, because I think our our staff, I've heard that they do watch our meetings um at least uh after the fact sometimes um you know, the stuff that that is set up here is not lost on them. So, um you know, for myself in particular, I want to make sure that I'm mindful of not doing things that's going to make someone feel like, you know, their their their job's going to be negatively impacted. Um, you know, certainly without due diligence. So, any other discussion? All right. With that, we'll move to our last item, which is to adjourn our our organizational meeting. Um, our next meeting is January 20th, 2026 at
102Woodland Elementary at 6 PM. Looking forward to uh that presentation there. So, do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Second. >> All right. Roll call, please. >> Mleti. >> I. Moyer. >> I. >> Sheen. >> I. >> Sula. >> I. >> Whitaker. >> I. >> Okay. We are journed at 7:30. Thank you.