SMFCSD Board Meeting 2025-08-18

001I call to order this meeting of the Stoman Falls City School District Board of Education on Monday, August 18th, 2025 at 6 PM. >> Roll call, please. >> East Jenkins, >> here. >> Merlin, >> here. Sheen >> here. >> Sudonic >> here. >> Wind >> here. >> Please join us in the pledge of allegiance. Everything we do is designed to provide a future ready student- centered learning experience for every single child. Our strategic plan for 2021 through 2026 will help us accomplish this goal by considering every facet of a student's learning experience from curriculum to infrastructure to wellness 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 an engaged community

002and therefore encourage and respect input from citizens. We expect that everyone present will behave in a manner consistent with the behavior we expect of our students. We reserve the right to have those who do not comply removed from our meeting. >> Superintendent's report. Good evening everyone. I would like to start uh this evening's um superintendent report with some uh thank yous and some accolades. I want to start first with uh thanking our staff for a great opening uh for our school convocation. Uh there were many hands that were involved in the convocation. uh we thanked them at the meeting, but we really want to uh give a shout out to all of our staff members as well as our board members who were there in attendance. Also with our partnerships with the mayor's office, Rotary,

003um our um sponsors were Acme as well as Young's Printing. So, we want to thank everyone for a great uh school opening. Also to kick off uh our school opening um we have our um back to school uh dashboard information was sent out to parents uh sharing information because tomorrow we are back in business. Students will return on campus tomorrow and we are doing staggered starts. Uh so students in grades one through five seven nine uh only will participate in school on tomorrow and then on Wednesday all students will return from grades 1 through 12. Our little kindergarteners will be here on August 26 and our little bulldogs will start on August 27th. I please ask that all parents access the back to school dashboard. Has lots of useful information for um your um needs

004uh and can answer those questions in one-stop shopping. We had the opportunity to uh have our back to school bash which was Saturday from 10 to 1. Again, I would like to thank all staff who participated. our board members and a special thank you to Christy Pro uh for uh being engaged with our community partners getting everything set up, our athletic department uh also our building and grounds and transportation. Uh and again, shout out to all of our uh staff members who came out, gave of their time and greeted our families. And a special shout out to the mayor who was part of the dunk tank and helped us raise a lot of funds. And also Mr. district and Mr. Love. And so we are glad that they're here because we told them they had

005to stay healthy after the dunk tank. And then thank you to all of our sponsors and participants uh on uh Saturday as well. Now, we'd like to start out with uh some of our congratulations with our students who were involved in several activities over the summer. As we say, school is always a year-round business. And so I'm going to start with asking the speech and debate team to join me on stage and uh Mr. Miller will share a little bit about what they were involved in over the summer. >> Hey Jimmy, can you grab the mic? I think we're on now. Okay. So, my name is Jimmy Miller. I am the head coach of the speech and debate program over at the high school. We I've been in uh coaching the program for 13 years,

006head coach for six years, ever since Miss Suzanne Tyson retired in 2020. Um the students that you see here today and CC Latime I believe is going to be a couple minutes late, so hopefully she sneaks into the photo here. Um the students here today as well as two students who graduated, Trey Dickerhoff and Griffin Moore were fortunate enough to be some of our national qualifiers here for the uh national speech and debate tournament. Um it is a national tournament that is annually the world's largest academic competition. Before I kind of reveal I guess like how these students performed, um I just wanted to kind of reiterate the scope of how difficult it is for these students just to get to the national tournament. In order to like join the team, you first have to

007conquer a fear that most people are more afraid of than heights or spiders or death in some cases, which is public speaking. Um so just to join the team you have to kind of conquer that public uh that fear of public speaking and then you have to wake up every Saturday most Saturdays from mid-occtober to February uh at very early hours on Saturday morning and then you have to get on a very cold bus ride off to some high school far far away and compete against some of the n the nation's toughest student competitors. Here in Eastern Ohio, we have one of the country's toughest districts in America and our students continue to annually perform very, very well. So again, just to kind of offer some scope on what it takes to get there, when

008we have our district tournament every year in February, um the students are usually competing against roughly 50 other contestants in their competitive category and they are vying for one of three to potentially four slots as a national qualifier. Okay. So, in order just to get there, you have to be one of the top three or four in your competitive category. Um, and you you're going up against 50 speakers. So, um, so just to get there, it's a really really tough road. There are some alternative routes to nationals, but I just kind of wanted to reiterate how difficult it can be. So, um, first I'm going to start with Cece and Otis, uh, Cece Latime and Otis Shoenberg. They are duo interpretation team. They were octafinalists at the national tournament. I might have brought some notes

009here with me to make sure that I got it right. They are 33rd in the country this year um out of roughly 200 plus competitors who were nationally qualified. Um so that was a great achievement for them. This is actually the second consecutive season that they've actually made it to that octafinal round. So we are really really really proud of them. Additionally, we have Joshua Jordan here in Lincoln Douglas debate. Joshua was one of the top 48 in the country. Um, making it to three days of competition for the first time that we've ever had anybody in Lincoln Douglas debate advanced that far. So, we're really proud of that. And then we have Jackson Moore. Jackson finished 11th in the nation out of 238 contestants. Um, becoming our third consecutive marking the third consecutive year

010that we have had a national semi-finalist in one of the speech categories. And that also means that Jackson is already nationally qualified for next season. So he will be joining us next year in Richmond, Virginia. Of course, we hope everybody here on stage and all of our student contestants are that way as well. So um again, we're really really proud of this team. We um I really do think that we are kind of on the precipice of something special as a program and we're really excited to kickstart this next season. So let's give a hand to CC, Otis, Jackson, and Joshua. So, congratulations again to the speech and debate team. Um, and so we want to grant uh you a small token uh for your team. And so we used some proceeds from Foodie Palooa

011and we are honoring you with $2,000 uh for your speech and debate team. So we wanted to give it to you tonight. [Applause] And next, we'd like to do congratulations for our FCCLA National Competition. I'm going to ask uh Miss Armstrong to come up and share who we have here tonight and what the competition was all about. [Laughter] Hi everybody. Um sorry it might be tough to follow the speech and debate team up here. Um but yeah, I'm here with three of my FCCLA students tonight. So, if you're not familiar with FCCLA, it stands for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America. Um, it's a nationwide student organization with over 240,000 students involved nationwide. So, it's huge. Um, and our students, if you don't know what they do, they compete at the regional, the state,

012and the national level. Um, at the what they do is they compete in what's called career development events. So, it's an FCS-based organization. Um so the events that they can choose from range from interior design to cooking related competitions um to FCCLA related competitions and events. Um so yeah we had the privilege of taking five students to nationals this year in Orlando, Florida. So they qualified not only at the regional level to attend states in Columbus but also at the state level um they qualified and to do that they have to place in the top two um in the state which is a pretty big accomplishment. So here we have um Stella Haynes and Sophia Pearo if you guys want to come on up. So, these two competed in level two interior design um where

013they had a prompt to create a space based on a rubric. Uh and they placed very well at the national level. So, they placed in the top 10 overall, which is um incredibly hard to do when you're competing against um you know, 49 other states. So, they did incredible. Um and then we have Anisha Buua. If you want to come on up. So Anisha's counterpart Cameron is not here because she had her first varsity tennis match of the season tonight. Um but Anisha and Cameron competed in promote and publicize FCCLA at the level three which is um juniors and seniors. And basically that event is essentially creating like a marketing plan to explain and promote what FCCLA is not only at our school but also in the community. Um and Cameron and Anisha placed first

014overall at the national level which is um really really incredible. And there was some stiff competition. So um yeah, super proud of them and looking forward to what's to come this year. Great job you guys. And last but not least, we want to congratulate our invention convention team. And so I'm going to ask Coach Jessica Martinez to come up and share. Hi. Thank you all for being here. My name is Jessica Martinez and I teach fifth grade math, science, self-contained, gifted at Lake View. Um, it's my fourth year at Lake View. For the past three years, I've taught a class called Invention Convention through the Ohio Invention League, which takes students through the process of creating invention or building upon an innovation. And we go through, you know, identifying a problem, researching, um, looking through

015patents to ensure that their idea has not already been created, uh, building the invent in invention, testing, refining, um, creating a presentation. So just the entire process of of creating an invention and this takes place about from like November through um, April. Once students are completed um then we proceed to um go through the competition part. So they need to be uh recorded and then um those videos are uploaded to the Ohio Invention League where they participate in the regional competition. So you're talking about 900 students in the state of Ohio that will compete in regionals. So, I'm very proud because we have um of the 13 students that participated. I have three that won. So, of 900 students in the state of Ohio, three of ours um from STO have won. So, I want

016them to come up here so we can congratulate them and I can tell you um what they won. So, Jace, if you want to come up, Lula and Beloved sister wants to come too. It's cute. But come on up. It's good to see you. I haven't seen you or you yet. So come on. So perfect. Right in a row. So this is Beloved and tell them the name of your invention. Super strain. His name invention was a super strain which is a kitchen um a kitchen kind of appliance you could say. So beloved won um re won state finals so for his invention. So with that for his category. So with that he won um 529 scholarship money an award and the privilege to participate in US nationals. So it's a really um big accomplishment

017seeing the amount of students that do participate. So congratulations to beloved Jace your invention. >> Mine was called the quiet cup. Quietup and Jace won regionals for our region which is northern region. He also won 529 scholarship money and an award for his invention. And Lula, >> my invention was called the grip no slip hair tie. >> And Lula won best new inventor of the year. Only two of those awards are given out um for all the students that participate. So these are really big accomplishments. I'm so proud of how well um they did because with the sheer volume, you know, of people participating uh to have three winners for for to represent Lake View and Stow, it's just a huge accomplishment to see how the program, you know, I've been able to grow the

018program over these three years. Um I'm just really so proud and so happy to be here. Um and thank you to the board for allowing me to share this huge accomplishment. Appreciate it. I would like to uh welcome Avery Swanson, our student board representative. Um we didn't get a chance to um make uh the acknowledgement at our last board meeting. So we want to make sure that we acknowledge that Avery will be joining us as the student board representative for this school year. So let's give Avery a round of applause. Um I'm very grateful for this opportunity to be the student board representative. Um, it's something that means a lot to me to be able to make sure that the decisions we make affect all of our students in a positive manner. So, I'm very

019grateful for the opportunity. >> Thank you so much. I'd like to take 30 seconds um and say not only congratulations to all of our students um who are so involved and creative and amazing uh but also thank you to the families who support their extracurricular endeavors and their efforts. Um, but also a huge thank you to all of the folks who coach and assist and navigate all of that with our students to give them that opportunity to really be their best selves. So, thank you. >> Thank you so much. And now moving into our theme for this year, the heart of a bulldog. We're gonna have the heart of Kempton, our school leader, Mr. Dietrich, come and share um Kemp's middle school presentation. >> Awesome. Thank you, Mr. Gano, Dr. Gould, Miss Swanson, members of

020the board. Thank you for having us today. So, this is an exciting time and sometimes I I I get a little nervous up here and I don't know if it's just because, you know, speaking in front of people or just the excitement of the school year. We look at the future of Kim with our invention winners from Lake View and we can't wait to see those young people here walking the halls of Kempton and to see our speech and debate and our others other winners at the high school. Um, it's so great to see because you guys were walking the halls of Kimpton at one time. We talk a lot about how we plant seeds at Kemp and oftentimes our teachers don't necessarily reap the benefits of it, but when they're watching board meetings, when

021they're going to an event, whether it's scholastic, whether it's um acetics, performing arts, it's awesome to see our kids and we see those uh the fruits of that labor. So today I I'm going to brag a little bit about Kempton because going first is great. It's awesome. We get to set the tone for the rest of the schools that come through. And while we don't have anything new right now imminent, what we do have is time to reflect on last year and our successes and ways that we can make our building better. So I start first want to start off with our successes and part of the strategic plan that we like to kind of stick with year in year out is mission two and that's continuous improvement. Some will say if you're not growing

022you're dying. So we always want to continue to reflect on our practices and see what can we do to make better. also with mission six uh staff and student wellness very important in the stages of middle school uh where one day you know a lot of highs and lows if any of you have middle schoolers at home which which I do um and you kind of know that feeling one day your kids are on top of the world the next day you know they want to lose all their friends and they want to just put their head under the p under the covers and call it a day so it's very important that we take care of our student wellness uh both physical and mental and emotionally. So, I'm going to celebrate a little bit

023with our academic celebrations. Our staff works hard to get the most out of our students. And while state report card data has not become final yet, and we have not seen that, the preliminary reports come out that we have improved from a three to a four-star rating in achievement throughout our building. And that's in the tested areas. That's with our performance index. It's great to see us jump uh basically an entire star rating, but also with our gap closing. And with that comes a lot of different subcategories of our students. And we hit eight of nine uh subcategories, I believe. And that jumped us up from a rating of three to a rating of five. And we celebrate those successes. And our staff needs to hear that because at times it can be a daunting

024task to be a middle school teacher and to think you're beating your head against a wall. But kids get it. And sometimes they don't get it right away. And sometimes they don't get it in seventh grade or eighth grade, but they get it when those kids walk that hall coming down for the senior walk in May. It's awesome when they're walking the stage um at the Max Center in Kent. It's just so great to see. Specifically, our eighth grade math increased 10 percentage points. Uh so we went from a 46 passage rate the year before to a 56 passage rate with our eighth grade math. That's not counting our algebra. that's counting uh some of our our biggest struggles that we have. So, it's great to see that uh we want to celebrate those wins,

025but also our everyday celebrations in terms of our our PBIS and we reflect in June and we and we see that oh that might not be updated. Can you refresh by any chance? Sorry. little different from uh what I had up there, but I'll speak to it while don't worry about it. Uh we had positive behavior referrals. So, our everyday celebrations, we like to recognize our students. And we had 291 positive referrals. Um and that's just everyday celebrations of, you know, seeing a student who, you know, may have lifted a friend up that day. And we have our staff that will write up that positive behavior reward. And it's great because we get to go around the school and kind of brag about that student. They get a Dairy Queen gift card. They might get

026uh you know a Little Caesars gift card to get a free pizza. So we celebrated nearly 300 students student of the month. We do that on the daily as well. Uh but also our suspensions our suspensions decreased nearly 10%. So when looking at the data from the the 23 school year to the 24 school year, we noticed that the out of school suspension rate dropped by 10%. Uh and then also just the the positivity that permeates through Kimpton and that's something that is not measurable with data but it is measurable with feeling. People come into our building and at times you can feel the positivity because there's no other way to be. Our kids need that. Our kids deserve that. Yeah, there we go. Thank you. Sorry about that. Okay. So, I'm going to highlight

027just a few of the things that we have going on uh that's outside of the classroom and that is our wellness days and our unified sports. So, unified sports has become big in our district which is awesome. And we have our students with disabilities that peer up or that match up with typical peers and they go out and they compete and they compete against other schools, different sports, soccer, basketball, flag football, other things and it's a lot of fun for our kids. They get some other opportunities. We've had students that have met last year we met uh some of our Cavs cheerleaders. I believe some of the scream team was there as well with the Cavs and also Cleveland Browns. So, uh at one point I think uh coach Stfansky was there with a couple

028of our kids and as well as some other players. So, our students had a great experience there. And then our wellness days, we'll do a couple of those this year where it's just noncurriculum day during our win period and it's about 40 minutes where a staff member says, "Hey, this is something I like to do. If there's kids that want to do, you know, that have an interest in this, we'd like to bring them on board for 40 minutes a day." And we only do that twice a year. It's a lot to put together, but you got someone who loves crocheting. We have staff members that love to crochet, and we have kids that love to crochet. So when they match up for those 40 minutes and put together a finished product, it's pretty neat.

029Here we got a couple kids doing some cookie making. So we had staff that like to bake and they brought in some cookies and the kids did some cookie making. Uh I got my arm fired up to throw some uh uh some some pitches to kids in home run derby. So we had about 25 kids out back playing home run derby and it was a lot of fun. So we do a couple of those wellness days. Kimton Buddies. Kim Buddies is awesome. We have a group of kids around 30 to 40 students that are eighth grade now. Some of them were buddies last year and some are just going to be influential with our incoming seventh grade. And uh we try to find those students who need that connection and pair them up with an

030eighth grade buddy. So with our buddies, we did some training. The folks at Redemption Church up on 59 were awesome to be able to house us there. And um and that's actually them on the left that they come in and and fed our students last year breakfast which was greatly appreciated. and a lot of fun. And then our musical. I I threw our musical on there because it's just awesome. Like I can't tell I love the performing arts. I love coming to an orchestra concert. I love coming to a band concert, choir. Seeing the musical because it's so impressive because it's something I can't carry a tune, nor can I play an instrument. But to listen to these kids grow from year to year is just outstanding. So just congratulations to those students who put

031themselves out there on a daily basis. And then we have rocks which is ruling our experiences. We have our career compass students where we try to provide them opportunities and we have students that need that connection. We have students that need to build that confidence in and out of the classroom. So we thank all of our staff who are involved in this. Like it's great to see that we just don't have one adviser for each club or group. We have multiple people that are working and willing to help out uh with our students. staff student connections. So, we do a lot of fun things here at Kemp. We have our Mayday run, which happens the first Friday in May. And every student is encouraged to come out in some way, shape, or form complete the

032two-mile course through the streets of Monroe Falls. Don't have to run. Some go after it. Some get out there and they want to win the whole thing, including some staff. Not me, but some other staff do. But also, walk. You can walk it. walk with your friends and just have an enjoyable experience. So, that Mayday run is a lot of fun. Um, and then we have our staff student games which get uh which can get pretty competitive. We have our field days. You might hear about field day points and we got to wear spirit this and spirit that because we got to get our field day points so we can, you know, hoist that banner high at the end of the school year. connecting with families. Uh that that's on the daily and that's you

033know whether it's wage hope postcards home uh whether it's phone calls home whether it's you know just just greeting people at the door when they come in the office to connect just to make sure you connect with that family because that might be that might be the only time that you get a chance uh to have a conversation with that person as busy as it is close to 750 students it gets busy so any chance we can to connect with our families is important. Jumpst start is great to start the year. It eases a lot of kids and parents. All right, fears of middle school. And one example of bringing other uh bringing, you know, connecting with families is our vape education night. So, uh we've had Dr. Feifer from the high school come down

034last year and this was our first year and we hope to make this a little bit bigger as we move forward just on the the dangers of vaping and educating uh families on that and connecting with the community which is similar to connecting with families any chance we can like the back to school bash was awesome got to see so many families whether it's past and present uh Kimmpton families we host the spelling bee the districtwide spelling bee here here at Kimton. And anytime Mayor Perbanic gets a chance to talk in front of our kids, he loves it. So, we try to drag him here as much as we can. He gave a civics lesson at the end of the year to our eighth grade social studies um uh students. All right. So, I'd like

035to bring up Miss Evelyn Hot, who is uh she is not a stranger to anyone. Miss Hot is our next assistant principal here at Kempton. and um yeah, she's been at the high school for some time, but I'm going to turn it over to her and she can do more talking. >> Um just going to take a minute. I was at the high school for 10 years. Um I'm excited to have the opportunity to come over here to Kimton and um work with, you know, the wonderful people in this building. Everyone so far has been helpful and kind and you can just feel the energy in here. You know, the kids are excited to come back to school. The teachers are excited to work with the kids and I'm just really happy to be able

036to be a part of this team. Thanks, Miss Hot. I'm excited to work with uh Miss Hot. It's great. She comes and we just uh got good ideas flowing together. So, super excited to work with with you. And to finish things off, I I've got a link here to our welcome back video. I know this might be impromptu, but there's a member in the audience that recommended that we show this uh to everyone. Thanks, Mr. Rener, for your advice. And we'd love to be able to show this if possible. of just I just can't stop the feeling. Got this. You got that feeling? >> Can't wait to see everybody in. >> So, we're excited. We're excited for a great year. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sure our seventh and eighth graders are excited to come

037back. I would hope they have a lot to look forward to this year. Okay, that's everything correct. Okay, we will take a quick recess to let the students who would not like to stay, although you are welcome to stay, sneak out of the audience real quick. Okay, looks like everyone has settled back down. The next item on our agenda is comments from the audience on voted agenda items. At this time in our agenda, we invite citizens to share their concerns about items on today's agenda that will be voted on only. Comments on non-aggenda items will be heard later in the meeting. All comments must be directed to the entire board and be no longer than three minutes. We will listen to and consider your remarks, but there will be no conversation aside from clarifying questions.

038If you are seeking a direct response or further information, we ask that you submit your request in writing. Please begin your remarks with your first and last name. Um, >> I have uh two points of order. Um if anyone's coming up if they don't they can sit down if they want or they can wait. Uh the first was I noticed on the agenda um at the end here where it had next meeting uh it says here September 8th 2025 um are we not having the August 21st meeting? >> Yeah, that's the next regular schedule meeting. The August 21st will be a special meeting. >> So, all right. So, that wouldn't need to be added to the agenda. >> Nope. Okay. The second point of order is um I would like item number 10 um stricken

039from the agenda. Do you have a motion for that, Mr. Sheen? >> Um, no. It doesn't require a motion. The treasur does not have any authority to add items to the agenda. >> So, it doesn't require a motion. >> You are incorrect, sir. >> Well, I have your protocol and there's no mention of the treasurer adding anything to the agenda or having the authority to. >> That does not mean the superintendent and I cannot add items that the treasurer is responsible for. We have treasurer items every meeting, >> right? And those are those are items that the board president and the treasurer or the board president and the superintendent ask the treasurer to add. But as far as the treasurer putting an item on, um that is not the case. He is not does not

040have the authority. The treasur is an employee. So if the treasur is able to add things to the agenda, then any teacher would have that same opportunity as a citizen would have that same opportunity. Uh and again your protocol does not mention anything about the about the treasurer putting anything on the agenda. Neither does his duties uh 1320. There's nowhere does it say that he can add items to the agenda. And also item which is board meetings. Um there's no mention of the treasurer. >> The superintendent and the president of the board can place the item on the agenda which we have. Okay, that then that's contrary to then what I got from the from the treasur and the treasurer said I will include on the next agenda a resolution to specifically authorize me to

041act on behalf of the board with depositories. So that is on record at the district as well as the banks. He says I will. It doesn't say the board president. It doesn't say the superintendent. >> Mr. As a secretary to the board of education, I help place items on the agenda as well as some other staff members. So that is why you would see certain items under treasures recommendations and treasures consent agenda which probably go back as far as can be on the agendas. >> All right. So just I'm getting clear being that the treasur is an employee of the district. Um any teacher is is what you're saying then then any teacher or citizen from the community can add items to the agenda >> that does not follow Mr. Sheen. >> Right. Well, we

042have an impass. So I will just go ahead and make the motion that item that item 10 uh I shouldn't need to but I will make a motion that item 10 be stricken from the agenda. >> Is there a second? >> Seeing none, we will move forward. It is time for comments from the audience. Would anyone who would like to make a comment please approach the mic? Seeing none, we will move forward to item seven. Superintendent At this time, I would like to recommend that the board of education approve the consent agenda items B through M. Do I have a motion? So moved. Second. Any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Ease Jenkins. >> I reli. >> Sheen. >> Hi. >> Sodonic. >> Hi. >> Wind. >> I would like to recognize the names and information

043for the donations listed in the consent agenda and personally thank uh everyone for their contributions to our students and district. Uh Ryan Courtright donated $20. Uh we have the to the volleyball team. We have the Rotary Club who has also donated two boxes of snacks to Highland Elementary uh from the stuffed bus. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Item number eight. >> Uh next, I would like a motion to um sorry, I would like to recommend the following personnel recommendations. Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> E. Jenkins. >> I. >> Reli I. >> Sheen. >> Hi. >> Sudonic. >> I. >> Wind. >> I. Item B. Uh to authorize the uh board of elections to use Woodland Kemp at no cost for the

044pre-election for November 3rd, 2025 for the public voting on November 4, 2025. Do I have a motion? >> Some moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? >> Roll call, please. >> E. Jenkins. >> I. >> Merlin. >> I. >> Sheen. >> I. >> Sudonic. >> I. >> Wind. >> I. Item C. The next item is a resolution for authorizing the execution of delivery of master electric energy sales agreement between the district and the power force schools endorsed electric supplier Engle Resources LLC. >> Do I have a motion? So moved. >> Second. Any discussion? >> Can you explain that? So, this is an agreement that uh provides us with a cost-saving for uh the the district and it's only even though it lists all of our schools, it is really an agreement for the fieldhouse uh so

045that we can have energy uh services over at that particular building. >> Roll call, please. E Jenkins >> I >> Meritty >> I >> Sheen >> I >> Sodonic >> I >> wind >> I item nine >> wish to recommend that the board of education approve the treasur's consent agenda. >> Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion? I would like to update everyone on the financial report. It was not the one I discussed a couple meetings ago. I was not able to get it working the way I wanted to. So, I uh kind of started changing the format and so I'm able to get that report looking the way I would like it to look. Um so, a little bit different than last time, last couple times, just making

046it look more professional and more like a a report. So you have a cover page with the month that it is and the treasurers at the time. Um this is a very common looking document. As the months grow into the fiscal year, these will get bigger and then this act will start to turn into projections as I'm able to get some data to see roughly how much we're spending each month and what it looks like on a monthly basis to project where we're going to be ending on our forecast. But this is our May forecast for FY26 currently. So we have revenues up top, expenditures on the bottom, and ending cash. So right now, as of July, we are at a 98 days of cash, which is always a nice uh daily cash balance to

047see um because we're expected to be at 56 days of cash by the end of the fiscal year. And then this is comparing July of 20 uh fiscal year 25 to July of fiscal year 26. So last fiscal year versus this fiscal year. Um our revenues and expenditures and it correlates to these numbers up here. Just giving you a sidebyside review of the two fiscal years of the month. And then I kind of made it more of like a report. Um so you're not just looking at numbers and you could read to understand the numbers. Um, so if there's anything, you know, at the times you like or dislike, feel free to shoot me an email and I could look at changes to make things look more appealing. Um, and if things look too clustered,

048please let me know. But I kind of like the way this looked as it kind of made sense of what those numbers meant that you're looking at. and then comparing the documents above revenue and expenses instead of just seeing the the two bar graphs chart bar charts. You see kind of like in those sections of where where we're comparing the data and then it goes into the cash position report and then the check register. So now the check register will be in the financial report. So, it's one less thing to have to vote on. It'll just be included in this report, excuse me, in this report. So, instead of having three-page report, now it's going to be more of a at least on this one, 80 pages. So, it'll be a longer report, but the

049same information that we we board approve on a regular basis. >> Thank you, Mr. Gano. Any questions? I I just just so as far as the consent agenda, is it just A that we're going to be consenting to? >> No, it'll be items B through D. >> Um then why do we have a a section to vote on each of those sections if we're if we're motion to improve the consent agenda? Why do we need to vote on B? And >> that's just a clerical error. >> So that shouldn't be there. >> Nope. >> Okay. So, we're only voting once, >> correct? On items B through D. >> Um, and that's going to include C because C has a section where we're going to vote. And then D. There's no there's nothing there as far

050as but A through D. So, what we're v what we're consenting to is A, B, C, and D. >> Yeah. So, we're doing B the minutes, C the financial report, and D the annual reporting of commercial paper. But you're saying this this uh section where it's showing that we're going to be voting on each one was done incorrectly. >> That's correct. >> So I can >> Yes. >> We're not voting four times. We're just voting once. >> That's correct. >> Um because I guess this would go under financial report. I don't know where else I can ask this, but I've um asked um and I really w really whittleled it down uh to find out what the cost of the district was for New Zella and Savis. When when can I get that information? >>

051You said newella and Savas. >> Yep. S a v a s n e ws e l a. >> What exactly are you looking for with Savis? Because Savis >> the cost what it's cost the district. >> So what I've explained in the past is that Savis is a company and it contains several different curriculums. Is there a certain curriculum that you're looking for under >> I'm just wanting to know what we're we're paying for SAVIS. What is the amount of the check that we write to SAVIS? That's all I want to know. Take all of them. all all the curriculum that we buy from them. >> Okay. >> I I could have those numbers by the end of the week for you. >> All right. >> And Newella is often free. So, I'm not sure

052if you're going to have anything. >> Well, they do have a free version, but I want to see if we have that or the paid version because there is a free version. I think it's called New Zella Light, as a matter of fact. Any other questions? I appreciate the new financial report and the narrative piece of it rather than just the numbers. So, thank you. >> Yeah, I try to keep it uh short and sweet, but enough information where you understand what's going on. I don't want to bore everyone bore anyone to death while putting too much information uh so they're not really reading the full document. And then I do just want to um comment on number D. This is a annual reporting. Uh the board needs to approve it uh authorized before interim

053funds can be invested in those expanded options. While the treasurer must complete state approved certification training to meet statutory requirements. Our district utilizes red tree investments to manage and execute the investments not the treasurer directly. This ensures compliance professional oversight and responsibility stewardship of the district funds. So just a procedure thing absolute by the uh August 31st. So >> anything further? Roll call please. >> Geese Jenkins >> I. >> Meridi >> I. >> Sheen >> I. >> Zudonic >> I. >> Wind >> Item 10. >> I wish to recommend the board of education approve the resolution as presented. >> Do I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. And I do want to say this will be on our organizational meeting moving forward every year just so it gets on a regular basis of

054this resolution. That was my question. Why wasn't it done in January? >> It doesn't have to be. I'm just trying to find a rhyme or just now following a more cohesive meeting date that it'll always fall on. >> So would we be looking to shouldn't this or should I could could this date be Well, I don't know when our January planning meeting would be, but wouldn't that be more appropriate? It would go from July 1st to January, you know, wherever we that first Tuesday of the month in January. >> Yeah, I was I was trying to get it on this calendar year to follow the board because since the board meetings follow a calendar year, I just wanted to get it in this calendar year. >> But yes, moving forward, it'll follow on the organizational

055meeting which has to happen in January. >> So, therefore the 15th of January. Would there be issues that if this were approved that it says January June 30th of 2026 that it could not be amended to coincide with our January calendar. >> Yeah, that's just saying it's for the period this period. So >> yeah, so what this >> it's almost through an entire school year. >> This resolution is following the fiscal year. So, it's written for the fiscal year and then moving forward starting with our January organizational meeting which hasn't been scheduled yet um it will be moved to the calendar year. >> Yep. And any time that we would add or change banks, this will need to be updated. >> Okay. >> And this is basically telling us that um you're being the depositor.

056>> Yes. And at least my definition of a depositor refers to an individual entity who places money or other valuables into a bank account for safekeeping. Um and then section 331 3313.51 uh it does mention um if the treasur is incapacitated the board may appoint an officer of the school district to sign the checks. Now, is that something that's done at the point of incap incap incapacitation or is that done prior to that? >> I think that would be asis basis >> on asis. Okay. >> Yeah, because it says here um and it looks like this was back in 2006, depository agreements adopt a resolution every year. So, we hadn't done one this year. Do you know if one was done last year by any chance? I do not I do not know that off

057the top of Mr. Sheen. >> So this resolution is just simply stating that you are the depositor. So you're able to take money in, put money out. >> Yep. And also just enter into agreements with said banks. >> Okay. All right. Now, nowhere do I see here that it restricts or has any restrictions on an elected board member from having any kind of conversation with our representative banks that are holding on to our money. Is that is that is that what is that is that said anywhere in here? >> That would be more on the um depository agreements with who they would speak with each bank. So with a depository agreement, a board member can be added to that >> with the banks. >> That's essentially unheard of. Mr. Sheen, our role is a governance

058role and talking to the bank is very much in the weeds of day-to-day operations, which is under the treasurer's job description, not a board member's. I'm just going to add that's not really relevant to the to the agenda item. >> That's very relevant. We're looking at approving a resolution. >> Give me strength. Um Um So what you're saying is a an elected board member has no ability opportunity to talk to the people that are holding our money. Is that what you're saying? >> Mr. Sheen, we addressed that. That is not in the resolution. Any further discussion of that is off agenda item. >> Roll call, please. >> No, you you need to hold on a second. You need to do a It's not called the point of order. You cannot just move forward. You have

059to >> Call the question. So, there needs to be a vote. There needs to be a motion and a vote. >> I move we call the question. Second >> roll call on calling the question. >> East Jenkins >> I >> no >> donic >> I >> wind >> I proceed to roll call please on this item. E Jenkins >> I >> Merlin >> I >> Sheen >> no >> Sudonic >> I >> wind >> I >> moving on to our discussion items this evening our first item is to look at several uh board meeting dates. Um, our treasurer is not available on September 8th or December 15th, but our meeting will not have to be moved those days as long as we uh appoint a treasure treasurer prom during those meetings. Um, our October meeting,

060we need to look at potentially changing. Uh, Mr. Galano, could you explain the reason for that? Yeah, with the new budget bill with the state, they move the five-year forecast due dates. Um, so they were due at the end of November and May. They are now due on the 15th of October and in February. So, we have to look at moving the the October date uh just because they're kind of early and the sixth is kind of too early and the 20th is obviously too late. So, would the board prefer to move our meeting, our first meeting of the month uh to October 13th or potentially our second meeting of the month to the 13th? >> I just want to get some clarity. So, the state told you again, what did the state tell you?

061when the five-year forecasts have to be board approved. They were normally the end of November and the end of May. >> And when did you get this notification? >> That was in the the approval of the budget bill if you've been following along. >> And and and they're not giving you any leeway here, any gratus for this year. So it's like do or die. So they're essentially giving you a month to say, "Hey, you got to get it in two weeks earlier." >> Yep. that holds for every school district. That's that was a that's a state legislation. It's not something just for us. >> So then why wouldn't we if that is the case, why wouldn't this be on the 6th if the 20th is too late? >> It just gives me more time to

062work on the five-year forecast. >> The 6th is too early >> or the 20th he said is too late. >> And the 20th is too late. Correct. So then why is that an option here? >> Like why why are are we >> we need to decide whether to move >> has to be on the 13th is what you're saying, >> right? We need to decide whether to move the meeting from the 6th to the 13th or the meeting that is currently scheduled on the 20th to the 13th. >> I see. So one is going back, one would be going ahead. Okay. >> So this is based on the um state saying you have to have things in by October 31st, >> 15th. I'm not available on October 13th. Just >> Oh, I might have time

063for work. I'm sorry. Okay. Is everyone else available on the 13th? >> Yep. >> The 13th is a holiday. >> Oh, >> yeah. Not for the school. Correct. >> Not for the school. The school takes the Friday off. Yeah. >> Like Columbus Day or something. >> All right. President's Day. >> Can we do the 14th? >> That would work for me. Others >> works for me as well. >> Still out of town. >> Okay. >> That's fine. >> October 14th. >> Mr. Sheen, are you available on that day? >> Six o'clock. >> Mhm. >> And And is this this would still be a regular meeting. It's just his issue is going to be on there for us to vote on. >> That's correct. So, we're moving the 6th, the meeting from the 6th to the

06414th, correct? >> Or the 20th to the 14th. I don't know that we decided which of those meetings we're moving. Does anyone have a preference? >> I'd rather move the sixth. >> Okay. Anyone else? Okay. So, we will move the meeting on the 6th to the 14th. And Mr. Dr. Lano, if you could uh determine location. That one was scheduled for city hall. We will have to figure out if that is available or if we need to move that location. >> Yep, we'll look at that. >> Okay. Uh the other one that we need to look at rescheduling is our November 17th meeting actually follows during falls during capital conference uh which pretty much all of our administration will be attending and I think several of our board members. Uh so that could potentially be

065moved. Let's see which meeting of the month is that? Is that our second or first? That's our second. >> That's our second. >> Okay. So we could move to that would be the 24th. Yep. >> I have a couple questions on that. Why wouldn't have that have been known when we made our calendar on the 25th? We seem to be making changes to this calendar and I thought that's what we do in January is we vote on the calendar and we're making these changes on the calendar and plus um I think when I was questioning expenses by administrators um I think Felicia you mentioned that you guys kind of rotate who goes to these events. So, wouldn't there be somebody who went to to the capital conference last year that could sit in uh this

066year so that we can still have our meeting on the 17th? >> Mr. Sheen, I believe several members of the board are planning to get >> and I would like to know that who on the board is planning to go. >> I am planning to go. >> I'm planning to go. >> We still have a majority. your superintendent will be gone >> and the treasurer >> and is there no one prom that can sit in on that? >> Not with a superintendent and treasurer. That's too many people absent. >> Yeah. >> Would they looked at it yet? So say either way. >> Okay. Uh part of the uh reason for having to reschedule this is typically the capital conference falls during the second week of November and for some reason this year it falls during

067the third week. Uh so I don't know what that change was about with OSBA, but it was not it ends up not being scheduled the week that we had anticipated that it would be >> and that wasn't available during the time of the creation of our calendar. Does everyone have availability on the 24th? >> Yes, that works for me. >> I'm available. >> Okay. So, am I Mr. Sheen, are you available on the 24th? >> That's as right now. Now, I just have another I don't know this November 17th after the election. Um, is there any issue of the fact that there could be board members that are attending this that aren't board members anymore on the 17th >> and that the school is now paid? >> Board members are board members until January, sir.

068>> Okay. So the 17th we'll move to the 24th. We'll have to determine location availability for that one as well. >> And um Brona and I are working on a schedule for next year. We're trying to make sure that we look at all possible dates that might be conflicting ahead of time so we could stop this uh date changing um on a basis. Mhm. So, >> I mean, there was no predicting that the budget bill would include our 5-year forecast changing deadlines. So, we will anticipate what we can. >> Well, too, I'd like to throw out there, let's do one a month, and then it gives us a lot more flexibility. >> Mr. and we uh tried the once a month pattern a couple of years ago under our previous board president and ended up

069calling way too many special meetings that year uh to in order to ensure that district business was was done in a timely manner. That's certainly something we can revisit when we talk about next year's calendar and we can have that conversation then. Yeah, Frank and I could put together a two drafts, one with one board meeting a month and then one with two board meetings a month like we currently have been doing. >> And just just uh for your information, Mr. She and I was heavily in favor of the one meeting per month. And I um watched what happened um and it was it was unfortunate because the community was then um unable to um have prior advanced notice for meetings. it would if we have just three three days for a special meeting, it

070was happening too often. And for transparency's sake, I think it's best for them to be notified. It's easier to cancel a meeting than to um add. And we had left it open this year to cancel any meetings that didn't have a sufficient agenda. Um, and I don't think we actually ended up I don't think we've ended up doing that to this point. Okay. Uh, moving on. Item B, Miss Sodomic. Um, I just wanted to give a quick update because of I know that we as a district did a lot of preparation for um the uh anti-Dei measures from the Department of Education. And I just wanted to make sure that to um note that the a federal judge has blocked that um blocked schools from being able to to have uh funding um withheld because

071of DEI measures. um there's no action that we're taking at this point, but I just wanted to um make sure that that was, you know, something that people are aware of that's happened. It's on a federal level. Thank you for the update. We've certainly discussed that quite a bit. >> Anything now, but that doesn't We have funds that are still frozen, correct? >> Correct. But that isn't that's not the same. Um we have f we have funds frozen from um title but that has nothing to do with like being held as a penalty or um >> right because we did everything that we were required to do. >> Correct. >> That the the funds that they were um threatening to withhold is for districts that don't comply with their anti-Dei measures which we complied with

072everything and we're not having anything withheld. This is the federal judge has just blocked the ability from the Department of Education to actually withhold funds from anybody that's um not following that order. That's all. And anything that we would were to do would be to do in the future would only be at the recommendation of our legal counsel. So, but I just thought it was important since we've talked about uh DEI uh measures and the federal implications um ad nauseium. So, I thought it was important to add that there's something going the opposite direction now. >> Thank you. Any further questions on that item or comments? >> Okay, moving on to item C, Ohio checkbook. Mr. Sheen. >> Yes. Again, this was a resolution on September 8th, 2015. What is the holdup? Why aren't we

073actively engaged in know how checkbook? >> Yeah, when I looked at the minutes, it was more of a uh just authorizing the treasurer to use it. I do have a meeting schedule with a fellow colleague to go over the process of that so I could see what it all entails from start to finish. I believe and we've talked about this before it did just say they may we may use the authorize the treasurer to use it but not requires him to use it. That was my understanding as well. So in in understanding all of that start to finish uh steps then you will be able to give us an idea of how much labor that will entail from your office. >> Yeah. and see what actually it pulls for the reports as well. >> But

074now this says here it was moved by Armstrong second of Ian that the board of education approved the resolution regarding the Stoman roll fall school board education participation or how checkbook it says resolution doesn't say or >> have you do you have the resolution in hand? >> I have the minutes from the meeting. >> Well that doesn't indicate the content of the resolution though. All right. Well, then I'd like to see that then where I don't know where it is. I mean, I talked to the board members or a board member that was on here and yeah, if that's the case, I'd like to see it. I I'm just reading resolution and it was uh one, two, three, four, five yays and no nays. And motion carried >> and that was on October 18th. You

075said >> September 8th, 2015 under new business 220.15 Ohio checkbook.com. Okay, I'll go I have to go back to the the physical minutes we have at the board office and look that back up, but whatever I >> We were on it and then several years ago we were mysteriously deleted off of it. >> Yes. On what once I find what was in the minutes for that resolution number you stayed in, Mr. Sheen, I will share that with the board. >> Thank you. >> Can you give me a timeline just so I'm kind of not bugging you? by the end of the week. Anything further on that topic? Okay, let's move on to item D, policy updates, Mr. Sheen. >> Right. So, I couldn't find it, but I and so I'm not going to hold you

076to it. But, um, as far as getting what they were, I mean, I'm as I'm looking at the different ways that administrators and teachers can get, uh, their money to go to events. Uh, there appears to be an administrative guideline. Uh, I don't know if you were making a handbook, a handbook. There's documentation for approval. Uh there's policy 3 440. Um it just seems very confusing to even get uh numbers and there's no really no numbers on these. The the closest that this says and this is 3440. They will exercise uh professional staff will exercise the same care incurring travel expenses that a prudent person would exercise in traveling on personal business and and expending personal fund personal funds. Now in in reference to that and you can check these numbers if I'm wrong I'm

077wrong but at least my research from 23 to 24 we there was about $113,311 spent on hotels, cell phones, food and travel reimbursement. And this number here in 2025 was even bigger. Was about 15 58,000. We're not even done with 25. Um, so, and again, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you mentioned you were doing a a handbook or revising this or am I correct in that or did I hear that wrong? >> I think the only one I was referring to was the credit card handbook. I don't remember talking about a >> All right. So, when we when we throw numbers out like we just did, we we need to be very careful when we're talking about staff and travel because some of those travel include athletic events, some of them include

078professional development, some of them include um our students that were here today going for extracurricular activities. And so, we're talking about several different funds. Some of those are federal funds, some of those might be general fund. So we need to when we when we say things like that we need to be able to equate exactly what we are distinguishing in that amount. >> Sure. No, that makes sense. Um but again just the you know let's just say let's just say that's what it is. It has to do with professional development and these numbers are whatever they are. Um kind of just being out there. I happened to get an opportunity to talk to a teacher, 20-year teacher in Pittsburgh at a high school and just recently a three-year teacher, second grade teacher in Maryland. And

079I just happened to ask them, "What do you guys do?" And both of them had said to me that their schools will strictly pay for the course and everything else is on is on them. Um, I think that might be cleaner, but I I don't even know how to entertain that or how we would get into that discussion to to say make that change or to adjust it because as I said before, there's a big difference in say somebody going to a training and spending uh that happens to be $400 for hotel and somebody's only spending 150 or whatever or somebody's driving back and forth and um and just I think it would just make it cleaner and it certainly will save the district some money. >> Are you asking for teachers and staff to

080pay for their own travel expenses for for professional development? >> That's what these teachers do in Pittsburgh and Maryland. >> Just to be clear, I just wanted to make sure >> they they pay for the course. >> The school pays for the course and it's on the one teacher went to Las Vegas. She had to pay for her flight, her hotel, her food. Uh the other teacher went to uh I think it was in Maryland and she had to pay for her gas and hotel and food. Uh and then they, you know, I think we do hear, but they did have a um uh a process where they had to apply for that far enough ahead so that it could get approved. But, you know, again, just something to uh consider um because again, just

081the disparity in in courses and classes and uh things that are available that we want to encourage to, but you know, again, I always had to pay for my own. I didn't have taxpayers paying for my continuing education. Um, I went because I wanted to become better. So, so again, I don't know how to even entertain this as something to talk about or do we just kind of forget about it and continue on what we're doing? >> Mr. Sheen, it policy is um within the board's governance role. If you have specific changes in policy that you would like to see, you are welcome to work on making those changes uh in consultation with legal counsel to ensure that whatever changes you are suggesting are um commensurate with not only the law but our collective bargaining

082agreements. Um, and then once you have a proposal of a changed policy, you can bring it in front of the board. >> And so, so that I'm not so that I'm clear here based on what I'm talking about where it's under job related expenses 3440. Is that entail what I was just referring to as far as the reimbursement of those types of things? Or is there another policy or something else that would kind of dictate uh how these uh how the how the staff because how the staff is reimbursed for this kind of stuff? Is that the one I can zero in on or and if you if you need to check I mean again you can tell me by Friday but I don't want to go through all this and say well there's policy

083number 6000 that says this you know >> Mr. And that's part of the work that a a board member does when we uh suggest changes to policy is do that background research um and again consult with uh our administration and legal counsel to look at the implications of the changes that you are suggesting. Um so that is certainly work that can happen. >> Well, that's what I'm doing. I'm asking. So I guess you just want me to wander, huh? I'm asking the people that would maybe have that answer. >> I am explaining to you, sir, >> the process that a board member goes through in order to suggest a change in policy. >> The you can access all of the policy from our website, too. So, if you have questions about what policies exist, it's

084it's right there for you to look at. So, so you're you're in the correct policy, but what you're asking to be explained out is an administrative guideline. Those things that you are referencing would not be in the policy. The policy gives you a general overall idea of exactly what is supposed to happen. You are in the correct policy, but what you're asking for is an administrative guideline, which is not approved by the board. those uh day-to-day operation and procedural things happen uh at the administration level. >> So then in my research I'm looking for the administrative guideline. >> Yes. >> So you would be looking for the administrative guideline which would coincide number the number would be the same. >> The three 340. Okay. >> See that wasn't so hard. Anything further on that subject?

085Item E, outstanding lunch fees. Uh, Mr. Galana, do you have some background information for us on this one before we open discussion? >> Yes. >> Okay. Um so this has been an ongoing issue for I think all schools probably in the United States not just do fall city school districts. Uh the one thing we started to do this current fiscal year which is fiscal year 26 is anybody who had a negative lunch balance at the end of fiscal year 25. We converted that into a school fee. When these fees are paid they will go back to the food service which is at 006. And then below is an example of what someone would see in pay schools if they owe an outstanding lunch balance from a prior fiscal year. Why are we doing this? We

086can no long we cannot charge a student more than $1,000. So if that student were to hit $1,000, let's say by January, uh we cannot charge them anymore. So we're really losing the data of how much that student uh is technically owed back to the school. So, anytime that will happen, uh, we will convert that fee of $1,000 into a school fee so we could get a true accounting of how much that student is costing the district and how much they will have to pay back. Um, so like I said, this is really to just try to have more accurate of accounting to make sure like, hey, we're trying to get as much money back as we possibly can from these students who are racking up some pretty hefty uh school lunch bills. Uh, and

087then some policy considerations. They're looking at policy 6152 uh student fees, fines, and charges and kind of exploring the student participation in extracurricular activities if fees remain outstanding. So kind of like, hey, until your fees are paid, you cannot participate in certain things. Uh this is still in the talks. It has not been submitted through legal uh or upper administration. Just um just kind of throwing some ideas out there. And then as of June 25th, we were roughly at $100,000. So, as of right now, there are technically like no outstanding uh lunch fees when it comes to food service. >> Wait, what was that last statement? >> It's just talking about like as of So, right now, it'll be like our lunch service was kind of be like it was rode off down to zero.

088We're just tracking it a different way. >> So, those outstanding fees have all been converted. >> Yes. >> So, they will show up under the where parents expect to see lunch account balances. They will show up with school fees. >> That's correct. Yep. And then >> So you mean we got that money? >> No. >> So it was written off. So we lost that money. >> No, we were writing it to a school fee >> to to the individual student. >> Correct. Yep. We're still accounting for it just on a different in a different way. >> Um just out of curios, what is a lunch cost? >> I believe elementary school is No, we just went over this. I think high school is 350. Middle school is middle school principal here. No, >> I think

089it's >> Well, let's say it's $5. That's a lot of lunches to get to a thousand. Is there something we can do so it doesn't become a thousand before we take some action? >> Yeah. So, we do send out invoices regularly through email and then once they hit a certain dollar amount, we those do get sent out uh phys physically to the houses. um not on a not every month or every week uh but I think several times a year we do send those out >> because the other issue is I don't want a kid to not eat. >> Oh correct. >> So how do you Yeah. How do we balance that? How do we balance the one who's coming in and going for free and not paying for it and could very well bring

090a lunch, but it's easy, you know, verse when we get to just $1,000 in lunch fees just sounds an enormous amount of money before there's some action taken. >> And usually >> let's say at $100 we should be saying, "Hey, >> yeah, and we we do we don't wait till it's at $1,000." Angie, the food service director does a great job at trying to get as much money as we possibly can. When those do when the invoices do go out, we do see some payments come in through central office for the lunch fees to uh pay those off. >> Have you tracked like percentage- wise, is it 30%, 40%, what's been the history? Do we have a history of if we have $100,000 of outstanding lunch fees in 2020, you we recouped X in 21

091we'd recoup this? just to see what's realistic. You know, it's great. We we put it on the school fees, but I I mean, you could wait till a kid's a senior and hold back their their um diploma, right? >> Yes. So, that's what we're we don't have that data, but we we that's what we're trying to prevent. We're trying to prevent it by the time they were to leave a elementary school or move to a different school that all the fees are being paid at a regular time. And with some of the expirations that I'm looking into, hopefully that will help get the money that's owed to the district faster because you are right. When you are a senior and you do have a trending of, you know, your fees aren't being paid, you could

092rack up a pretty hefty bill when you're walking across that stage. >> But I'm saying, do we do that? I mean, would we hold back a diploma? No, a diploma as far as if there's an a huge outstanding debt owed to the school. >> Yeah, there's only so much we can do. Um, but we do >> what the rules are. We do try to get as much money as we possibly can anytime and we have worked with some families who who kind of go on a payment plan so that way we are working with everybody to ensure we are getting funds. >> Now if you see something that's just way out of whack, do we do more than just sending them a letter? I mean is there at some point we have a sitdown and

093a kind of a come to Jesus meeting here, you know? Yeah. Yeah, >> try to understand maybe there's something we don't know and we can kind of help out rather than just kid just racking up more lunch fees. >> The food service supervisor a couple years ago implemented a system if once it hit X amount, you know, an invoice would go out once it hit an X X amount, the principal would call uh to offer some services. Maybe the counselor could call and talk to that family if hey, what's going on? How can we help and get some more information on what's possible to help the situation out? And then I'm guessing too if if the kid's not paying, I mean, isn't there a free lunch or how how why wouldn't this kid be on

094that program if they're having issues with paying for their lunch? >> You would be surprised, Mr. Shan. Sometimes people just don't read their emails and for uh to pay the bill, but we do not withhold lunches. So the kids >> No, I'm not talking about withholding them, but >> what I'm saying is the kid can still have a lunch. They just can't add the extra items that come along with it. and our food services were sending out information to families weekly uh in regards to uh bill payments. >> But but >> and the the application which allows families to get a free lunch or reduced fees is completely voluntary for the families to fill out. We can't compel that. Um that is a voluntary form that uh families have to choose to fill out to

095qualify for that. But is that ever part of the conversation saying, "Hey, Mrs. Jones, we see your $500 and there seems to be a problem here. Have you considered the free lunch? Here's the form. Let's fill it out." >> Well, the conversation is had, but um as we shared when we talked about federal updates, we encourage everyone to complete the application whether you think you qualify or not. you fill out the application, you may qualify. Um, but we get people who opt not to fill the application out and for whatever reason, >> but we can't force a person to fill the application out. >> I just want to speak to something I heard you say about withholding extracurriculars, and I just want to voice that that's something that I would be very, very, very heavily

096against. I don't feel comfortable with students being held responsible for their parents' bills. So, I just want to say that right away. I I didn't I don't know where that came from or what discussion that's been, but I I just want to put that out there right now. >> Yeah. Some of the stuff um it was talking uh to other treasurers, you know, like what they're trying to do do things and there's a lot we can try to do uh to try to get the money that's owed to the school district. >> And I understand. I mean, it's a balance, but it's just that just caught my ear of something I I don't really like. >> The other concern is holding We can't hold the diploma, but I know we hold the transcript. So, then

097we're preventing that child from any successful future because then they can't go to college because the college won't admit them without an official transcript. So, we got to figure out a way to to do this without impacting our students futures. I don't know what the answer is, but it can't be withholding a transcript. >> Agreed. Now again, I don't want to be the mean guy, but what about a kid who leaves who transfers and they have the outstanding? Do what's the leverage there as far as holding their records until >> There's a federal law. There's a state law. You can only hold uh so much. Uh I think it's $2,500. That's a that's the limit. Uh but you have to release the records. And most records we have to release uh due to us being

098a public education institution. Again, we cannot get in the way of that student's future and that student progressing um because of money owed by the family. >> Yeah, once we have more on some of the policy considerations, it'll you know obviously would have three readings on that after talking to legal and some other uh discussions. Uh so you'll be along you'll be with us along the way through this entire process. How does that play into the conversation that we had before about the the school about the lunch um I'm sorry about uh nutrition services being self- sustaining. So they I could probably look at how much uh so they are very self- sustaining. I think they last I looked they had well over a million dollars in the bank. Um, so they're it's not going

099to hurt them. Um, but it's, you know, it's money that we've spent uh whether it's federal dollars spent or some tax tax dollars spent to get some of that food uh in there because at some point, you know, nutritional services kind of were always in the red. Uh, general fund would always have to subsidize that. We saw a change with COVID when they did free lunch for everybody for a couple years. Um, so with some of those balances, we have a healthy balance through that. We are going to be going through an audit, so they will they will probably tell us we had to spend down some of that money. Um, which is nice because we could use it on new equipment, furniture needs for the cafeteria. So, it's nice to have that cushion to

100help where u in a fund where it was never sustaining. >> Okay. Thank you. you because I know there had been some questions from the community on how that could be how those two things could be true at the same time that a department is self-sustaining but there's also a launch debt. >> Yep. >> Thank you for that. >> Anything further on this topic >> and thank you for your input. >> Thank you. Okay, next item F, cell phone policy. Dr. I know some of this was included in the um back to school information. Did you want to give us some background on this one? >> Yes, I can share some background. >> Uh in February, we passed our um cell phone pol in uh February of 2025, we passed uh our policy uh recommendation

101for what is called uh personal communication devices. So that's how it's referred to in the policy. After we re um approved the policy, uh we knew that we would have to come up with a cell phone procedure for July 1st of 2025. That um then changed at the state and so what we started to do is we started to gather um information. So a survey was uh shared uh with uh community staff and with students and we ended up uh receiving uh responses. Uh everyone didn't uh respond to this one but it was really a total of 538. And so you can see across the board um the number of people who did participate uh in the uh survey. You see, we have administrators, uh, city leaders, coaches, community members, entrepreneurs, first responders, uh, people

102who were in partnership with us. We had student teachers, long-term subs, uh, and, um, we even had somebody who was a former prosecutor and attorney uh, who put down exactly what that uh, what they did. Uh and so from a school building perspective, you'll see that we have 538 responses here. We even sent this to uh Holy Family, which is our non-public uh partner uh as well to kind of get uh a feel to make sure that we were covering both public and non-public bases uh with the survey. And so, uh, just recently, um, this is the, uh, legislative update. Um, it is called be present, be engaged, be phone free. Uh, and so, uh, what it outlines is all of the, uh, information in regards to, uh, the cell phone um, policy as of

103today. Uh, and it is to be implemented by January 1st of 2026. It defines what an instructional day is. And an instructional day um is included the for formal instruction that is in a classroom. But it is also about supervised activities such as transitioning between classes, recess, meal periods of course, which would be lunch and field trips. So any supervised activity is what they are considering the instructional day. Now, the adoption of this policy will happen January 1st, 2026, which is really not feasible for schools because we start school in August and count that as a school uh year. So, um what I've done is uh to take a look at our current policy or I call it procedures more so uh and how we look at uh using our cell phone And so this

104information um and also you can click the policy button there and you can see the current policy that the board adopted in February. So our current uh cell phone procedures that we will continue to follow for right now in our elementary intermediate and middle school cell phones are placed in their locker. They are not used during the school day. uh and that will continue to happen. At the high school is where we see a little difference that takes place. Currently, our students use their cell phones and are permitted to use them as they are transitioning in the cafeteria and during the study hall. We will continue to do this as of right now. Cell phones are banned during the instructional period. When students go into the classroom, they are either placed in their book bag

105or what we call the cell phone caddy. It looks like a shoe bag and they are numbered and the student will place their cell phone in the caddy as they walk in. Teachers did this all last year. They gave a lot of great feedback about how this worked. you know, seeing kids being more interactive in classes, all of those type of things. The reason we have left this in place as of right now is because the high school is involved in a six compact school district. We have students that are traveling to six other well five other schools in that compact. Each compact district that I've spoken to, all the superintendent, they are follow test test >> testing. Okay, >> sorry about that. Um and so um we have collaborated and uh we will all

106be following this particular policy um where they will continue to be permitted um in the hallways, cafeteria and study hall for now. we will work toward a total um compliance I'll say I don't even want to say compliance um total uh look at the instructional day and we will work with our families and our students uh so that they know what that will look like uh before January 1st of 2026 we did not want students to travel to the other schools and there's one policy in place at this school another policy in place there and students are trying to figure out how to follow that. So, um that's why all the superintendents met. We came into agreement um with this and this is still in compliance. We're um just not at the level of where

107we are totally stricken during the day. Now, in the policy, there are exceptions that come with this. If there is a medical condition, students who uh have an individualized education plan or in their 504, uh they would be allowed to have their phone. And that's why we say if you don't have it in the caddy that's in the room, then you would have it in your book bag because you may need it for a medical reason. Um and so we will that is still part of this policy. The other thing that we had to outline is also what the consequences would be if there's a disruption during the instructional day. And so um worked with the uh high school uh team and here is an outline um that would be dis uh assigned depending on

108the severity of the violate violation. So, um you can see as we go through letters A through H here, um we want to make sure that we are um really taking a look at the severity of the incident and so someone you know not turning it over or something like that. We don't want to jump down to an expulsion uh when we have other steps that could um be taken u for that particular infraction. And so that is uh has been shared with families uh and that's where we are currently with the uh cell phone procedures. Questions, >> Mr. Sheen? >> Yeah. Aside from And I I really appreciate that because I was a little scared when I read this. I'm going I think we could go a lot further. All right. But you're saying

109we're we're handcuffed because of the compact is basically what's kind of handcuffing us right now because we need to get clarity. Well, we want to get clarity and a lot of times when we like this policy like at first we were July 1st we had a hard stop and now it's January 1 we got a hard stop. We want to see as we move slowly toward this if there's really going to be any changes because right now this is the first time we've seen the instructional day actually define for us and also to include things like field trips that has never been there before. So now it's any supervised um activity within the school day. >> And I would add that that's not a matter of being handcuffed by the six to contract. This is

110a matter of taking our students experiences into account and ensuring that our students who travel to other districts and students from other districts who travel here are not confused about what the policies are and facing disciplinary correct consequences because of that confusion. And that's why the superintendents, we all got together to have a conversation about this u policy because we don't want students uh impacted as they do travel across our different uh schools. >> Yeah. Because I would like to see um what we're implementing at the elementary, intermediate, and middle school be the same thing at the high school. Um but I see it is a little bit more complicated to do that. And when I say handcuffed, meaning that in a perfect world, if all the six schools had the same policy, that would

111make it really simple. But the likelihood of that is probably slim to none that all six would have the same, >> you know, sometimes it just depends on what the community um because and that was the whole point of us doing the survey to see where we were um with that. Now, the other thing that always kinds of concerns me is, you know, there was the statement here, although our goal is to work with our students. You know, we're the professionals or you're the professionals, is that is that I I I I question that, you know. >> So, I think a lot of times when we say our goal is to work with our students and and I can say that when I did my listen and learning, having a conversation with students and Avery

112was part of that. One of the conversations we did talk about was educating students on why things are happening in the schools. Like many of the students didn't even know that Governor DeWine had proposed this particular policy. So just sharing with them like this is where this is coming from. This is where this is headed. And so to have that conversation with them then they automatically know. So then they can share that out like this is why we're doing these particular things. uh and here's some ideas. We we can't dismiss the student voice. >> Well, in that way, they're not thinking, oh, well, this is the principal's idea. Correct. Or they then they have an understanding of where >> and I was able to share that that policy with them and actually go over it

113so that they could and they were like, "Oh, we had no idea uh why we were doing it." But most of them shared that it has not been a problem with them going into the classroom putting their phones into a caddy. So if there was an emergency event, which uh is always the thing that comes up, what if there's an emergency and we don't have a cell phone band? We have a complete cell phone band. Well, the the phone is in the room. And my thing is you want the the educator to be leading the student during that emergency experience. So you want their attention. I I would not be thinking about my phone at that time. If I had to run and h I just would not. >> And I know that's a that's

114been a common concern that I've heard from parents. Um, and just in terms of reassurance, I spoke recently with a board member in another district who when they implemented this uh procedure last year, then experienced an emergency situation in their high school. believe it was a gas leak, but >> I could be misremembering that. But um her comment was that everybody had phones in hand within 90 seconds. Um and that you know if the students needed to communicate to their parents after hearing from staff that that they were pretty easily able to do that and manage that emergency situation. Uh so you know just in in terms of reassurance like you said that phone is in it's in the room it's accessible if correct if if needed. >> Yep. So, so the the current policy

115here, what's your kind of timeline as far as is it January 1st as far as whether this is going to be tweaked at the high school or changed or amended or >> So, we tal I talked with the administrative team and we talked about um starting to move toward uh the full ban and what that would look like. So, do we start with because when you change a policy in a school midy year, >> it it's it it's always a it's difficult. So, when I saw the January 1 date, I was like, oo, why would they select the middle of the year to to change something? Uh, so we're going to have to work with our students to kind of talk about like this is why we're doing this. And we may start slow. We

116may start in study hall that we say there's no cell phones used there. And so we kind of ease those things off of the plate. >> I was just going to say that I go I don't know why a kid needs um a cell phone in study hall, >> you know. So yeah, I would I would 150% agree. We're going to start that would be a good place to start. >> They're supposed to be studying. >> All right. So we're looking at kind of evolving through this. Um and now in these and again I think this is going by making it more like the elementary, intermediate, middle school. Um this this violation protocols or procedures just seems almost overwhelming to a teacher because like it says discipline will be assigned depending on the severity of

117the of the violation. Who determines that? I mean you're gonna get into a he said she said. >> Well no right now at the high school and it's been this way for a while. If there is a situation like that, they immediately um text their uh school administrators and the school administrator deals with that particular uh incident. That is not the teacher. >> I mean, >> and it's been like that for a while. >> I mean, it may be even something, you know, we have a we go a to H. I mean, maybe condense that down a little bit. >> This came from the administrators. >> Well, I'm just I'm just throwing stuff. >> That's their recommendation. I'm coming to you from a parent who had five kids with cell phones, you know, and >>

118um Okay. All right. Well, yeah, this is encouraging and, you know, I'll be curious to follow as we tweak this and >> eventually get to a day when the kid will say, "I don't have one. I don't need one." >> Avery, I know that the the high school kind of has been implementing this process over time. Um, have you heard particular feedback from your fellow students about it? >> Um, yes. So, I know a big one is always um anxiety like what if this happens? Um, because I know me personally, if something happens, I'm going to text my mom, I'm going to call her. Um, anything like that. But also just like we're such a phone dependent generation, so we're kind of like Yeah. Um, we're always going to assume that it's our principles, the

119superintendent. That's what I heard a lot last year. And I think with us getting more like getting older, being able to see that it's actually the government, I think that's helping. But I still think it's going to be a really difficult change for the high school at least. I'm looking forward to hearing as as things change um what kind of feedback you get from your fellow students about that and and you know kind of what everybody's noticing about the impacts of changing that phone dependence a little bit. Any further comments or questions on this topic? Okay. Uh moving on, item G, uh regarding optouts. Uh Dr. Gould, did you have information to start us with on this one? So on August 4th, I I kind of shared um this information in regards to optout forms.

120I actually did a demonstration on where you could find them. So this um particular uh information here just shows you exactly what I went over. So, if you go to the district website, you are to click the drop-own menu for families. Uh, I have an arrow showing that it says forms and applications. So, you'll click on that. You will scroll down and then you will see where the opt out request form uh is located. And then you can click on that request form. Um, you it is a PD uh fillable type form. uh anything that is not on the form can be added to uh the bottom of it. There's a space where you can write uh as well. >> And this information was included is included in the back to school dashboard. Correct. >>

121It's included in the dashboard, but it was information that we had shared before the dashboard ever went out. >> Okay. Mr. Sheen. >> Yeah. Right. And I had copies of that. I I'm just going by the few people parents that said I couldn't find it, you know. So, it was more of we need to make it even simpler. Um because I mean I I look at the forms and applications and it says, you know, parent forms and information. It says final forms, update any of your information, but there's nothing nothing there that say would direct me to the opt- out form. So, I'm I'm as a parent, I might be clicking all three of those. Um you know, then it takes you to this form that says opt out request form. you click it and

122then you know it opens up to that the um the PDF that they can kind of check off. Um so I think that the the disconnect at least when I would try to help them was that first step. >> I'm not sure what you're looking at because as soon as you click on forms and applications it's right on that page. I'm looking at it right now. >> It says forms and applications parent forms and information and it says >> no you don't have to click that. If you scroll down on the page that >> right here, see that? >> All right. So, all right. >> So, let's let's go back. Let's let's slow down. >> All right. So, this is a continuous then. >> So, if you go to families, >> got it. >> Click

123on forms and application and just scroll. >> Scroll down. Okay. >> So, >> you can either scroll down or you can pick it up at the >> right >> at the top. >> So, I guess maybe the other one is moving that or but um again, I'm just going on the folks that you know said, "Hey, I can't find it. So >> again, this is included in the back to school dashboard. So parents should have easy access to that information. >> Anything further on this topic? >> And then the other issue which goes to the opt out form was the Mimmude verse Taylor. Um the statement was made that we don't teach that. Well, I got a email the next morning that yes, she still does and it was Lake View. It was Kimton. Um,

124kind of what was disturbing, this was a parent, a child who opted out. They were taken to their room to wherever they would take the kids to that opt out. Um, was given a magazine which had the same material in that the parent had opted out in. Um the child knew child put the material aside with nothing else to do pulls out her Chromebook and plays games for that 45 minutes or whatever. Um and in reading the opt- out categories, there is no mention specifically of this Mimmude verse Taylor uh where children can opt out of any LGBTQ related text surveys, curricular lessons in public schools regardless of that material being presented during the day. None of these mention that. So I think we're >> I think we need to add this. I'm not going

125to add that to the form. And I shared why last time. I said that no one has ever come to my office and had a conversation with me in regards to this matter. I also shared that with you. If that person had a problem, then they should have shared that with the building principal uh and myself so we could look into that matter further. um if they need to opt out of that, they can write it at the bottom because we will not be able to list every nuance or thing that someone will think that they need to opt out of. That is the reason for um the area at the bottom of the form so that they can write in what that would be. >> Well, this one's being very targeted. It's not a

126generalization. >> We do not teach LGBTQIA. Well, I can tell you the magazine was choices, so we may have to go back and pull that one out. >> And if you would have that person give me a call, I would like to really discuss that matter with them >> so that we can discuss it with the building principal. >> I'll try. >> Anything further on that item? Okay, moving on to item H. Mr. Sheen, you had some concerns about legal fees. Could you >> Yeah, the amount of money we're spending, >> I mean, I I don't know what we can do. It It's It's You're looking at upwards of $700,000 at this pace, which is a fraction of what we did last year. And um I I don't know if that's been addressed as far

127as um how many people are calling the attorneys and you know anything. That's that's that's a lot of money to be spending on attorney fees. So I I don't know what the answer is. But we we can't continue at that pace. I mean $700,000 is a lot of money. >> What have the actual expenses been to this point? Do we have that? Uh they vary month to month anywhere from 20 to upwards of $40,000 each month, but it all depends on what was going on, how many public records requests we get. You know, we we get a lot of public records requests and a lot of them not even district community members, which is also just frustrating as it is. You're right. You don't have a stake in the district yet. they keep flooding the

128inboxes for public records requests, but that's just a small portion of what the fees go to. Um, but there's a lot of things that we're trying to correct and write the wrongs of, and there's some things that just are outside of our control that legal has to weigh in on and provide guidance. >> So, it's hard to predict how much we will need our legal counsel. Um, I believe that we have put some limitations on who can um consult legal counsel. Yes, we have put limitations uh in regards um to that. But uh we also have to remember that we did negotiations this year and we did point that out that we negotiated with both unions. Um so that does take up a lot of uh time as well. >> So that was a significant

129piece of the expenses year to date. >> Um we did come to a three-year agreement so we won't have to >> um expend legal fees on that for a while. Correct. >> Correct. Okay. >> Yeah. Not on the negotiating part, but if there are times where um each party tends or grievances or if there's times where we need more clarification on the verbiage of the contract, we will seek out legal counsel on uh what is the best way to approach each situation that may arise. >> Sure. And I think we also have to remember that we are also coming up a lot of with a lot of mandates that have come from federal and state that have not been around in the past that we have had to really look at a lot of our

130policies, a lot of those things and how that will play out within the school district as well. So that has also been a factor. Um, I've I've been around for a long time and I've not seen this many things come from state or federal government to impact school districts on a day-to-day. >> And I know that's been several of my um consultations with legal counsel is looking at those mandates that are coming down and how those impact >> correct >> our district. >> And again, hard to predict that especially when it's an unprecedented type of year. >> Yeah. Patrick, is that total correct that Mike said $750,000? Is that It didn't seem like that was that high to me. >> I think that was the >> I'm just going 30,000 times 12. >> Okay. So,

131you're just guessing making it out. >> I mean, we're into We're into August, so we're on the other side of the year. Well, again, we can't assume that a month that included federal mandates, state mandates, and contract negotiations is representative of the entire year, every month of the year. Um, so that's a large assumption. >> The entire first half of the year has been fraught with federal and state mandates. I I'm sure you recall speaking about them multiple times. Patrick, is it possible to maybe get a breakdown of kind of where those fees are are going? Like how much might have been for negotiations, how much we're spending on all these like these mandates, not anything specific, but just to kind of get it put it in in, you know, even, you know, lawsuits or

132anything else that would come up to be able to categorize it. Yeah. >> Yes. >> Yeah. That'll just take some time. >> I mean, nothing needed like this week, but just to give a, you know, an idea of where those fees are actually going. >> Yep. I like that idea. Anything further on this topic. Okay. Then we will move on to item 12 uh which is comments from the audience. At this time we welcome any additional comments and concerns. citizens wish to bring before the board of education. All comments must be directed to the entire board and be no longer than three minutes. We will listen to and consider your remarks, but there will be no conversation aside from clarifying questions. If you are seeking a direct response or further information, we ask that you

133submit your request in writing. Please begin your remarks with your first and last name. Press the bottom. Should be on now. All right. Good evening. Um, so first of all, I want to congratulate the students um that were mentioned earlier this evening. >> Excuse me. Could you give your name, please? >> Yes. So, sorry. Amy Mesmore Jones. Um, I want to congratulate the students that were mentioned this evening. They It's wonderful. Um, I also want to say how amazing it is to see um the educators so excited for the students to come back to school. Um it shows that they really care uh about the students. Um uh I also want to thank most of the board for your hard work. This is not an easy job. So thank you. Um I also highly recommend

134that a board member review board policy as well as Robert's rules. Um, I think that it is ridiculous to ask educators to pay for their own travel. Um, an education um, when I was a teacher, my starting pay was 25,000 and that's barely enough to afford a house in this economy. Um, I recommend talking to the teachers in the district and ask if they're willing to pay for their education, travel, etc., etc. Um, also the poverty level in Stow is 6.34% which is approximately 20,00 2,130 out of 33,700. Um, I got this data from usa.io. Um, because of this, I am all for free public school lunches for all because no children, no child deserves to go hungry. Um, I also hope that our teachers union uh protects the educators from paying for their own

135travel and protecting students from not graduating because their families cannot pay for a meal. Thank you. My name is Marty Simkins and the papers that I just am passing out are copies of the several of the credit card statements from the past year. They are showing a few things. The fraudulent charges that never showed up disputed on any statement. the January 2025 statement with a significantly lower payment than the minimum payment due. If you look closely, it also shows interest charges on this credit card statement. After reading 15 months of these statements, I truly believe that more oversight is needed. I also do not care that other districts around us do not request credit card statements. I only care about this district and how my money is being wasted. In the past 12 months, $387,000

136has been charged on that credit card. That averages $30,000 a month. This district and board have shown there are problems. No one is paying attention to how often this card was being used. I was happy to hear that 20 people no longer have a credit card. I also firmly believe that without the input of people requesting those records, nothing would have changed. Be aware that we are not going to stop asking for records. Trust is earned and neither the board or the district has earned any trust. >> Good evening. Uh this is the first board member I've attended. It's quite interesting. >> Could you give us our your name? >> I'm sorry. My name is Donna Syler. I live right behind this school. >> Um my concern is with Lake View. Um, I have grandchildren

137that live with us. Uh, my oldest grandchild is attending Lake View Fifth grade this year. And we were given papers from the teacher who has informed us that the upstairs for team 54 is totally inoperable. and she said their rooms get quite warm and gruelling. Now, my question is, we're in Texas weather here. It's very hot. They were told to bring extra water bottles with them. I am not happy about this. School has been out all summer. It doesn't say it broke. It says it's inoperable, which tells me it hasn't been working. I would really appreciate somebody checking on this. Why these children, we're talking the whole team. There's four classrooms that these children were told to dress accordingly. Do we bring swimsuits and spray bottles? This is horrible. The one home room teacher is

138bringing fans in. She said, "That's the best I can do while you all are sitting in your air conditioned offices. My grandson is sweating to death." And you can't learn when you're hot. So, I'd really appreciate somebody checking in as to why this air conditioning is not working. And Marty comes up and tells me, "We got credit card bills that are high. Something's not right here. Can we please take care of our schools? Thank you. My name is Cynthia Curtain and I'm your new judge at the Stow Municipal Court. I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself so you could put a name to the face. I um was appointed by Governor DeWine right after Memorial Day and I bring 35 years of litigation experience to the bench and I could go through all

139that with you which is quite impressive. But what I really want to talk to you about tonight is I think that our young people need more education on the life consequences that tag along with committing a crime or having a conviction. And some people don't realize that. For example, let me ask you, do you know under what circumstances your driver's license can be suspended? And there are many. Do you know what an enhancable offense is? And do you know what those offenses are? Do you think that all crimes, all convictions can be expuned? Some can, some cannot. So there are a multitude of what I call tagalong consequences that occur along with a penalty such as a fine or jail time that people don't know about. And I think that if people knew about that,

140they might think twice before committing a certain act. So, I will make myself available to any middle school or high school class that wants to know more about some of these consequences because I truly believe that if they knew some of this other stuff, not to mention the strangle hold that court costs can have on you. So, I think that if we had more information about this, it might help our young people and make better decisions. I can be easily reached at the uh Stow Municipal Court if anybody wants to take me up on your on my offer. So, thank you for your time and attention. My name is Faith Greer and I would just like to reiterate the concern about the school lunch issue. Um, I think I kind of had to step out

141of the room for a second, so I missed part of the conversation, but I want to make sure that we're not assuming that kids are willfully not paying for lunches. I mean, when you look at the poverty level and, you know, the concern parents have, I can't imagine somebody would just send their kid to school and not send a lunch or send money or whatever willfully. And if there's any way that we can give kids free lunches, I think we should do that, especially, you know, since the food services are self- sustaining. If there's a way to do it, let's do it. Thank you for your comments. I'm not seeing any further comments. Uh let's move on to item 13, executive session under 121.22G1 to consider the employment of a public employee or official. Do

142I have a motion? >> So moved. >> Second. >> Any questions? Roll call, please. >> E Junkkins. I >> Sheen. >> Hi >> Donic. >> Hi >> Wind. >> I we are in executive session at 809. There may be action afterward. Oh, okay. Okay, we are back in open session at 919. I move that we give Dr. Gold the authority to work with the SDA to resolve the June 27th, 2025 grievance. Second. Discussion. Roll call, please. >> East Jenkins. >> I. >> Merlin. >> I. >> Sheen. >> No. >> I. >> Wind. >> I. I will now entertain a motion to adjurnn. So moved. >> Second. >> Roll call, please. >> East. >> Jenkins. >> I. >> Merlin. >> I. >> Sheen. >> I. >> Sudonic. >> Hi. >> Wind. >> I. Our meeting is

143adjourned at 9:20.