2/19/26 Trotwood-Madison City School Board Meeting

001Jimmy I can do that. Good evening and welcome to the Triwood Madison February 19th, 2026 regular board meeting. This meeting is a meeting of the board of education and public for the purpose of conducting the school district business and is not to be considered a public community meeting. Mrs. Adams, would you call the role, please? >> Yes. Mrs. Cherry, >> yes. >> Mrs. Currington, >> yes. >> Mr. Lumpin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Simmons, >> yes. >> Mrs. G, >> yes. >> Can we stand for the pledge of allegiance? To the flag of the United States of America and to the stand indivisible and justice for all. Next we will have our mission statement that will be read by third graders Aiden Cox and Malaysia Matthews. Hi, my name is Malaysia Matkins. >> Hi, my name

002is Aiden Cox. >> My name are respectful, accountable, and self. We are Madison Park superintendent at Madison Park means we are at the school every day all day on time with no early days. The mission of trial schools is to graduate all students today to excel in a global society with a commitment to walking. I like commitment by dedicated participation in the state of resources. stimulating atmosphere. Thank you. Job well done. Next subject E is to adopt the agenda. Are there any changes to the agenda? >> There are two small changes this evening. First change is under two a board new board member. There is no action that will be taken under that. So we need to remove that action. And then the next under presentations we're simply going to switch A and B. Mrs.

003Adams will present the financial forecast first and then I will follow with the expenditure. The national expendure I need a motion to to adopt the agenda with changes. >> Yes, sir. >> It's been moved and second. Mrs. Adams, >> yes. Mrs. Simmons, >> yes. >> Mr. Lumpin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Currington, >> yes. >> Mrs. Cherry, >> yes. Motion passes. Next on our agenda is the new board member. So, due to a procedural error at our January 22nd meeting, board meeting, new board member Erica G was officially appointed to her seat by Judge David Brandon on February the 17th, 2026. And Miss Giz, would you please join Miss Adams for the admission administration of the oath of office? for the second time. Welcome. >> Next, we'll moving we'll go right into our financial forecast presentation

004by Jill. Okay. Well, welcome. Um, tonight I will be giving a presentation about um the financial forecast. A lot of this presentation is is um just about financial forecasts in general. and the point of of the forecast. So, this might sound similar some of it to what you have heard um from me in October. So, Ohio Revised Code 5705.391 and OAC 33019204 um are requirements that um require a board of education to submit a 4-year projection of operational revenues and expenditures along with assumptions to the Ohio Department of Education prior to October 15th and then an update by the end of February of each fiscal year. So this is the February update. In FY27, next school year, the date has been moved to August 31st and an update by February 28th. So that's a big

005shift from a couple of years ago with a forecast in November to August. Um and and of course February is a shift for May. The required funds to be included in our forecast are the general fund, any special cost center associated with general fund money, emergency levy funds, any debt service activity that would otherwise have gone to the general fund. Um, and our district will continue to utilize a 5-year forecast on the planning horizon, even though the requirement to submit is a three-year forecast. The purpose and objectives of the forecast would be to engage the board of education and the community in long range planning and discussion of financial issues facing our schools. Another purpose is to serve as a basis for determining our ability um to enter into contracts with various organizations and to

006provide a method for the Ohio Department of Education and the Auditor of State to identify school districts with potential financial problems. So, as you'll remember, our October forecast um last year is what triggered our financial situation that we had to respond to in December. So, before we get to the numbers, a financial forecast is somewhat like a painting of the future based on a snapshot of today. Um you know, I I I have said maybe a couple of times today even you never know what will happen. You know, we're making our best guess about what would happen, but we could have two school buses run into each other in the parking lot and all of a sudden need two more tomorrow. We hope that doesn't happen. But a forecast is is really based on what

007we know in the moment. Um our our opportunity to predict what we think will happen. The forecast is viewed as a key management tool and should be updated periodically. In the forecast, the numbers only tell a small part of the story. For the numbers to be meaningful, you would review and consider the notes and assumptions before drawing conclusions or using the data as a basis for other calculations. Board members have those assumptions in front of them. They've also been included with the agenda and are available to anybody who would like to see them. Uh the five-year forecasts encourages district management teams to examine future years projections and then identify when challenges will arise. This helps us to be proactive in meeting any challenges. So the key line items to pay attention to when you're looking

008at the forecast, there are two sections. There's revenue and then there are expenditures. The revenue is made up of two main sources, local and state funding. And then the expenditures are mainly salaries, wages, benefits, purchase services, and then supplies and materials. Before we get into our numbers, we're going to review a little bit of of legislation that has changed since our October forecast. So, in December, the governor signed into law four pieces of um legislation. House Bill 129, House Bill 186, House Bill 309, and House Bill 335. These laws take effect March 19th, 2026. House Bill 129 should not impact our district because we are not on the 20 mil floor. There are only um three districts I think in Montgomery County that are. We are not. So, this is one that should not impact

009us. Um House Bill 186, we don't have much information yet from the Ohio Department of Taxation. We don't expect that until after April. So, we don't know what that does to impact this forecast filing. um House Bill 186 for us, we don't anticipate any impact for us. Um something could change with future reappraisals, but right now between not knowing um and and our current appraisal situation, we don't anticipate any impact. House Bill 309 allows the county budget commission to reduce or override voted levies for school districts to limit collections. This uh has already been implemented in some counties. Montgomery County has been very clear they don't intend to override any levies that um any public entities have educated the public about and the public has voted for. They they have said very clearly and we

010thank them for saying um we don't know better than all of those agencies to change what the voters have decided. So um House Bill 186 would change the roll back structure. uh it modifies the um owner occupied tax credit structure for us. It's largely revenue neutral until tax year 2029 payable in 2030. So for our forecast right now, it's it's not going to have a big impact. This slide just reviews again the expanded county budget commission power. We are thankful in Montgomery County that they take the stance they do, but just in general in schools in Ohio. Um, these are are the kinds of decisions that are being made that impact schools. This would allow the county budget commissions to reduce and override any voter approving approved levies. Um, would allow for unnecessary collections beyond

011the reasonably anticipated financial needs of the taxing authority after considering fund balances, projected expenditures, and other available resources. there would be a public hearing requirement. They'd have to give the taxing authority an opportunity to present information at a public hearing before reduction and um could be an exclusion of debt levies. So these, like I said, are things we don't have to deal with, but as we're thinking about the impact on public schools across Ohio, there are schools that are suffering right now from the implication of some of these things. House Bill 350 335 caps inside millillage. Again, this is one we don't expect any adjustments to our projected tax revenues. Um, but it is something that's changing within the state of Ohio. So, funding schools in the future, these new property tax laws, districts must

012reassess their levy strategies, the timing, and the eligibility. does prohibit school districts from submitting new money current expense levy to voters if the general fund carryover balance is more than 100% of the general fund expenditures in the preceding fiscal year. So these are are things that are um new to to schools in Ohio as they're considering how they're going to fund themselves. It allows a district to exclude funds to be used within the next three years on permanent improvements from the carryover balance calculation which is one re you know we looked at moving moving money in our previous forecast to um permanent improvement and then ended up moving it back. So that was um a strategy taken by many schools. New and renewal of permanent improvement levies remain unchanged. renewals with an increase in replacement

013levy levies have been eliminated. Um and then there's a new emergency levy authority has been eliminated for districts not in fiscal distress. And our status at this point is not fiscal distress. We're still in a um just a precautionary status. The FY26 FY27 state budget update. House Bill 96 is the current state budget provided no increase in foundation funding. And so we know this the Ohio school funding formula is being funded for fisc year 26 at fiscal year 22 inputs. So assuming the cost of salaries and purchase services and supplies are what they were in FY22 and I think we all know from our home budgets that is not the case. And so the amount that we are getting funded from the state is assuming things cost what they did in FY22. And that's every

014school in Ohio, not just Trotwood. House Bill 96 also included a piggyback tax exemption law that allows county commissioners to give a second tax credit for homestead and homeowners. This would cost the district over $400,000 if approved by the commissioners. But again, thankfully the McGomery County Commissioners at this point in time have not decided to act on that. Okay. So now to to more Trotwood specific information and our assumptions with this forecast. We do have a Department of Education and Workforce fiscal recovery plan in place to get our fiscal year 28 ending balance in a positive position. So any the October forecast we two years out were um had a negative fund balance which triggered the attention of the state of Ohio and the auditor's office. So that fiscal recovery plan required us to get

015out of that position. Um we know that our salaries and benefits jumped in fiscal year 25 due to the addition of $2.25 million worth of esser staff being added to the general fund. Those positions were new to the general fund and will begin to be eliminated in our plan to um our recovery plan to help with our financial situation. Materials and supply costs increased. Fuel costs are up significantly. And then our deficit spending began in fiscal year 24 and continues throughout the forecast. Part of that is the amount of money that we are receiving in state funding is remaining at those FY22 levels and the costs of all of our supplies, purchase services, salaries continue to go up. Um, our expense growth has slowed on average over the 5-year forecast. So, we are we are

016trying to be careful with the resources that we do have. This chart will show you our revenue versus expenditure. Our expenditures are the red line. They are exceeding revenues throughout the forecast period. We do see compared to the October forecast expenses dropping in FY26 and in FY27 in alignment with our recovery plan. We know there were small changes we've been able to make in FY26, which is this year. Looking at people who have resigned and making a decision maybe not to replace them. We have reduced our cable bill subscription, our cell phone bill. Those little changes we're making, we can see in our expenditure reduction. And then the things that are in our recovery plan that we submitted show that we would project a continued reduction in expenditures through FY27. Our ending cash balance projection

017um the position is improving based on our recovery plan which is a requirement of the plan. So it's good that we see that there. our estimated general fund revenue sources. We receive 73% of our revenues from the state of Ohio. We really need to be keeping an eye on our future state budgets for the next several fiscal years. We know that the state of Ohio has a lot of control about the amount of funding that schools receive and we know that that impacts us on a daily basis. So, we just want to make sure to pay attention to that, especially because 73% of our funds come from the state of Ohio. This just shows a breakdown of our general fund expenditures. Wages and benefits are estimated to be about 76% of our total expenses. Purchase

018services at 14%, materials and supplies at 4% um and then other at 6%. things that would fall in other would be maybe um dues and fees for organizational memberships and things like that. Here are our general fund expenditures by object. Um fiscal year 23 estimated through fiscal year 30. So you can see wages and benefits the the kind of dark orange or red at the bottom and blue um continue to be the majority of our expenses. You can also see that everything is is um is rising. Things are just getting to be more expensive. So for us um the things that that will be impacting us continuing this year and throughout the life of this forecast, the House Bill 96 continued the fair school funding plan which means the inputs did not change from FY24,

019I'm sorry, from FY22. Um, current funding has us on the formula through FY27. So, we are funded through that school funding plan formula. The state could say cut or took from us $953,76 of supplemental target assistance. Those are funds that we received every year. So, that is as a loss for us each year of this forecast. Keeping in mind future funding is uncertain still for fiscal year 28 through 30. reminder that we receive 70 73% of our revenue from the state of Ohio. Um the package of property tax reforms that become law on March 19th are not expected to impact our district very much at this time. It's something we still need to keep an eye on and watch what's happening to our neighbors, but for right now we should not see a big impact

020there. um this bullet of $4,768,530. If you take that initial 953,76 cut of the supplemental targeted assistance across the life of the forecast, it does equal almost $5 million. It does severely impact our ability to maintain our instructional programs for our students. As we all know, that's a lot of money, even in a budget of our size. Um, we will continue to watch the actions of the Ohio legislature and any changes that may impact our district. Right now, we are projecting in our forecast that I will be asking for approval for later tonight, a negative cash balance in FY29. So even though we have a reduction plan in place, we have reductions that we're prepared to make, we're okay until FY28, but we we need to continue to pay attention and continue to think about

021what we can do to make that um to make a plan there. Otherwise, we'll be presenting this forecast again in August. And if then we'll be two years out again. And so if we're still showing that deficit in 29, we'll be right back where we have been with the recovery plan. Any questions about this? It's a lot of information. You do have the more detailed forecast that we'll talk about um later as well. Okay. Well, thank you for thank you for listening. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. >> Would you hear me click it, please? my uh I'm sorry, Mr. >> So, um the the next agenda item, it it speaks to a um a presentation with regards to a to a plan that we have established to uh to kind of ensure that we are

022along the lines of um what Mrs. Adams has has shared with uh with you guys to ensure that we continue to monitor our our financial situation. What um what I'm going to do is I'm going to have more of a conversation versus a versus a presentation. Um um just to kind of share uh with the board some of the things that um that we have started to put in place, some of the things that we're monitoring and just an overall an overall guideline and and um roadmap to how we plan to attack what um what we've been what we've been working on for the last several months. So, um, the first slide just kind of talks about why this this conversation with you guys cannot wait, why the conversation with the with the community, with

023the TMEA, why it cannot wait. And there there are four points there. Um, one is share a clear and complete picture of the district's overall uh financial reality. Mrs. Adam spoke to that uh very clearly with regards to the actual numbers to explain why significant reductions are unavoidable uh to engage the union leadership early and openly and discuss the options to protect 100% student success with minimal impact to staff and students. You know, as we move through this process, as we continue to evaluate every position, every individual that decides to take employment elsewhere or find uh another job doing something else outside of education, etc., etc., etc. Every time a job comes open, we are now in the process of evaluating evaluating whether or not that position is something that we need. Now we all

024understand that you know there are some positions that we have to have math, science, social studies, language arts but as we you know start working our way down that that list of additional things those things are really evaluated and then from the standpoint of those those content areas we're evaluating do we need this many? Do we need eight? Can we get away with six? So those are the types of conversations that have been taking place over the last uh the last couple of weeks um with uh various various entities in the district and and I want to be very clear with with the board to make sure that you guys understand that you know our focus of trying to get our students to achieve enjoy their their their academic experience, their social experience to have

025a holistic holistic experience for school has not changed. Our mission is still our vision, excuse me, is still 100% student success. But this has actually become a hurdle in in that in our in our in our mission. We got to get through this. We got to jump over that hurdle and then we got to get back on track to ensure that, you know, we don't lose sight on what what our purpose is. Logan, I lost. There it is. So, I want to make sure that you guys understand that there are some great things happening and we we do the best job that we can uh myself along with all of the staff members, all of the all of the the building principles, the teachers, the students to to let you guys know that there are

026some good things going on in the school district. And of course, two things that we've identified here are the, you know, the the focus on chronic absenteeism. We know that's a huge problem for us. We know that is something that we have had some very um uh direct strategies some developed some very direct strategies to try to attack those. And then you know the the the ultimate focus is student achievement and we know that you know on our report card over the last couple of years we've moved from two to two and a half stars. Uh we really truly believe that we are going to continue to ascend. we were almost at a three star star district and we've talked about that before and you know the simple fact that we've got you know three

027of our buildings in our district that are achieving over over those that overall three star rating. So we know we have a long way to go with regard to that, you know, and that's something that we're working on on a consistent basis, but we always want to acknowledge the achievement and we want to make sure that you guys understand that, you know, that is our focus on a daily basis, but finances do play a role in in our um in our in our process. So as Miss Adams said, we are already in financial distress. You have heard that conversation over and over again. We've talked about it since October, Miss Adams. >> Uh we've talked about it since October. We've had countless conversations about it. But we wanted to let you guys know that we

028are working towards trying to address this deficit spending. So there are reductions that are that are in process and I think um to date from the staff perspective from where we are with staff we're looking at about maybe to date about 35 positions that we are going to have to reduce. I don't know if it's increased or decreased. We we're still having some conversation with that. Now, those 35 positions are not all there. They may excuse me, they may include people that are leaving positions and we're just not filling those positions through through attrition, but the majority of them will be will be individuals that that we have to let know, individual positions that we we do have to let know that we can no longer fund those positions. So um at this point we're

029we're looking at about 35 positions, 35 staff positions. With that being said, we have also done some other things uh you know from the standpoint of all of the departments, all of the building budgets, 10% reduction of of building budgets. Uh we've we've uh worked with uh you guys and and we've instituted freezes on the administrative level. So there are a lot of thought lot of things that we are working through to try to find ways to save money any way we can, but we still have to keep plugging away to try to address to address this concern. And Miss Adams spoke to this uh before and and I'll just real quickly multi-year deficit spending staffing and programs added during ESSER that were not eliminated. State funding has not kept up the p kept up

030pace with inflation and operational costs. Huge huge issue and concern. Uh 10 20 years ago. I can't remember exactly now. I know 10 and 20 10 and 20 is a big disparity, but the state of Ohio determined that the way schools were funded was illegal and they had to come up with a different system to fund schools. implemented this system year over year over year. They continue to fight amongst themselves to determine how they are going to fund public schools. So what what do they do? They just decide this past year, you know, we're not going to pay attention to the D Roth case, the D Roth decision. What we're going to do is just we're going to give you the money you had in 2021 and you just figure it out. Well, just like

031everything else in the world in this world and as Miss Adams alluded to, inflation is real. Gas, food for us, textbooks, aluminum, wood, all of those things that people are complaining about with regards to inflation calls. We see it on the level of six buildings and hundreds of thousands of square feet that we have to that we have to maintain 200 plus thousand kids that we have to transport 200 2500 2600 kids that we have to feed. So as you think about those types of things and you put it on that level all of that inflation cost funnels through school districts as well. And as the the state contribution flatlines and our inflation costs continue to go up, then we continue to dig ourselves in a in a deeper hole. And then another another huge

032blow we took was that reduction of um the supplemented targeted assistant supplemental targeted assistance funds to get a call at the beginning of the year from the state of Ohio and they say oh by the way this money that you've been getting this close to $1 million that you've been getting every year over the last several years. We're just going to take that away and you figure it out. You know that's that's a huge huge detriment to uh to a budget. So, uh, state funding is is a key driver of our gap of our funding gap. And we continue to talk about, you know, why and what are some of those things that that um that keep will continue to put us in this hole that that it seems like now we're struggling to to

033to pull oursel out of. But uh you know being being transparent you know and and I've shared this on many occasions you know even if the state funding was where it legally should be >> we still would have to make some of these adjustments because of the amount of deficit spending that we were doing. But because the state funding is where it is and there is also a decision just to pull those, you know, targeted assistance funds away from some of the districts that are struggling the most. Then that hole in that, you know, and that gap has continued to get bigger and bigger. So, you know, with that being said, there are no there are no easy um there are no easy options for us. $6 million was our was our um bogey, per

034se, over the next couple of years. And for this year alone, we um we estimated and identified $3 million as as that that number that we were we were reaching for. Uh right now, I think with some of the things that we've done, we've anticipated and I just had a conversation with uh with Mr. Manley a little bit earlier today. We anticipated about 3.4 4 million is what we've got where we've gotten ourselves to a point right now with staff reductions and some of the other things that we're doing. But we have to continue to evaluate that number. We have to look at staffing. We have to look at scheduling. We have to look at, you know, if we get an influx of new students. you know, there are a lot of other factors that

035are that are continuing to um help or address some of these evolving situations that we have to that we have to pay, you know, pay attention to. So, all of these factors are kind of playing into into eventually this this this final number or this final, you know, landing point for us. and we're we're continuing to to evaluate that. So, um how are we making decisions and what we what will we protect? We want to protect classroom instruction. That's important. If we do anything, we have to make sure and ensure that we are protecting the most important thing and the focal point of school. We want to rightsize staffing. So through attrition as as I discussed uh we're looking to ensure that at a certain grade level if we have this many teachers can we

036can we increase class size a little bit and maybe use one less or or or two less and that's a conversation that has been been ongoing uh not only with the with the cabinet but with the principles as well. Uh evaluate all expenditures uh for fiscal responsibility and communicate early clearly and consistently. I think our our communication with with uh with the with the with the union with with you guys uh with the community, I think we've done everything we can from the standpoint of trying to communicate to ensure that everybody has this information. And then as we push forward with uh these continued reductions, we're going to have to have some more some more dialogue uh with the community to uh to ensure that they're up to speed. and and then um you know

037our our communication with you know as I stated before our communication with uh with TMEA with the understanding that you know uh TMEA is here for a reason and and we're here for a reason and we believe it's all for the betterment of students but you know there are some things that we all have to we all have to take in take in consideration when it comes to expenditures and our biggest expenditure is people. It is people. So through that we have started some discussion about wages and compl compensation, supplemental contracts, um longevity, insurance, just those general things that everybody these days is having a conversation about. But you know, we're we're in that dialogue right now. We're having that conversation. Uh we you know, we'll we'll see where we land uh with regards to

038that. But regardless of our collaboration or our conversation, Miss Adams and I and the administration, we still have to ensure that regardless of what comes from these conversations, we are still doing what the state has informed us we have to do. So with all that being said, if we do not fix these things, if we do not address these deficits, then we have what we um can ultimately term the doomsday scenario. And you know, the last thing we want to ever happen in tribal Madison City schools are schools in general because schools are supposed to be a hub of of of of social growth, intellectual growth, cultural growth, etc., etc. Some people don't believe that. Some people don't. I do. I believe that. And I know from the conversation I've had with all of you

039guys that school should be a holistic experience. But if we do not fix this hole, then we are going to or address this hole. We're going to have to look at what we call the doomsday scenario. And you're talking about elimination of of your related arts program. Could you imagine what this place would be like without a bank or without a music program? When you're talking about elimination of of supplemental and extracurricular activities, can we imagine what this place would be like without a a robotics program, without SE perch, without, you know, some of these other things that kids really connect to that are not always sports related. some of the programs that we got going on over at Westbrook and Madison Park, you know, some of these things that, you know, kids really gravitate

040to that, you know, may be looking for something else to tag them as far as u as far as their their school experience. Uh imple implementation of play-to-play athletics or elimination of of of some aspects of athletics. Um we have to, you know, of course with Title N, if we get rid of this one, we got to get rid of this one. So, um, you know, those that's some consideration that, you know, hopefully we never get to. And then, uh, the last two, which will be huge detriments to this district, elimination of high school transportation and closing of school buildings. You know, we we sit here and we look about we look at not, excuse me, we look at our issue with chronic absenteeism. What would the elimination of high school busing be if we

041got kids that we're fighting to get to school, especially on the high school day, fighting to get to school? So, if we take that away, then, you know, in essence, we're shooting ourselves in the foot. But, you know, that is something that that we we may have to consider. And then, you know, the last uh bomb per se would be closing of school building and shoving all these kids up in one of one building, closing closing a building. And and that happened in in here in this district in 2011. And it was probably the worst thing that ever happened to Toronto Madison City Schools. It probably took likely took five or six years for us to recover from closing those schools. And you know unfortunately those are you know those are some of the things

042that you know that would become you know would become realities that we have to consider if we uh if we can't get this can't get this issue under control. So, with that being said, we're going to continue our dialogue with TMEA uh through u our labor management committee and our schedule meetings. We're going to try to collaborate and try to see if we can uh you know, we can work through some things to try to find some additional, you know, some additional um areas of u reduction of expenditures, monthly financial updates to the board. We've every board meeting we've talked to you guys about what was going on. um weekly superintendent communications every every Monday. Uh since this has uh been been a concern, I've been sharing with the uh with the staff, you know,

043what's what's going on. I hope no one can say that they they're going to be surprised by by by what's, you know, by what's coming because I've shared >> I've shared every Monday uh what's going on. Um, and then on by February 28th, our goal is to uh inform anyone that's going to be affected of any anyone that's going to be infected with regards to the reduction in force. Inform them by the end of this month. So that would give them plenty of time to start, you know, making plans for for what's ahead. Um, that was my goal. I wanted to do that out of out of out of respect along with allowing you know all of these uh you know all of these positions that are going to be effective to continue through the

044rest of the year because that doesn't have to happen either. And you know if you're familiar with what's going on in Toledo City Schools when they got back from the holiday break they laid off 100 people when they got back from the holiday break. laid off 100 people and they had a week a week to get themselves in a in a better situation. So, uh we're we're committed to allowing um definitely allowing and working with all of these positions that are going to be affected through the rest of the year. And then uh as we talked about well of course I'm sorry spring community update want to continue to have this conversation and dialogue because with that community update with the information we put out there you know the board is going to have to

045make a decision about you know about a uh about a le and even with that we still don't know if we get enough millage generated in in this community along with the deficit along with the reduction of reduction of of of funding from the state along with the reduction of you know those targeted assistance funds. Even if we do pass a levy, if we are fortunate enough to pass a levy, we still don't you know we still don't know what you know what that that that looks like from from the standpoint of us because we get expenditures some sometimes are just they seem to just fall out of the sky. We get a kid that'll move in that has a lot of concerns, a lot of needs, needs a lot of support, and they go

046to end up going to the ESC, and then we just get a bill for it just wind up on our desk and say, "Oh, by the way, you got to pay $50,000 for this kid that showed up in in November." So, uh, we we've done, uh, done a lot of work on trying to make sure that all of those kids that, you know, are placed in those facilities are are ours and that, you know, we are being buil build um, built correctly for for those services. So all in all um the the you know the conclusion of this is we got to protect what matters >> and uh what matters the most is is is 100% student success. So uh we have an opportunity to work through this. Uh we've been working diligently to try

047to address these deficits. Um we we truly hope that you know uh the conversations with the TMBA continues to be collaborative and we can come up with some things to try to find some um you know some other alternatives for um revenue reducing uh expenditures, excuse me. But um you know it's not it's not the greatest time, but we're going to push through this. We're going to uh get on the other side of it and then we're going to get ourselves refocused and focus on the momentum that we have in this district to ensure that our students get the best education they possibly can we possibly can give within the means of what we have. All right. So, you got any questions for her? >> Um, of the 35 staff persons, Mr. Howard, have any

048of them been told yet? >> Not yet. No, >> but by February 28th, next week. >> That That is our intent. >> Okay. >> My my goal was um by the end of February to inform anyone that that is going to be affected. um which you know as this list continues to evolve somebody can put a retirement or resignation in tomorrow and then somebody may come off that list. >> So uh we're we're still uh working through that and and then somebody can get a letter today or excuse me on the 28th or the 27th and somebody can retire or resign down the line and they'll be on a call back list. Okay. So, you know, we're hoping to, you know, be to to be in a situation where we minimalize who we who we

049do lose, but we do understand that there is going to be some loss. We do understand that. And and you know, my perspectively, not to get on a soap box. I had to start looking at positions and not people. >> Yeah. >> And I struggled with that. I I really did because, you know, this is this is new for me. you know, I went through it in 2011 as a staff member, but uh you know, when you start looking at people, then it becomes more and more convoluted and complicated. So, what we had to do is we had to start looking at positions. What are those positions? And once I got myself to the point where I was okay with that and I was, well, I'm not okay. Let me pull that back that I

050I understood that >> accepted it >> and accepted it. Then we had to really start evaluating and addressing how we start attacking attacking this this deficit. >> And I think we've come to a point now where, you know, we understand where we are now, but if things don't change, we'll be, you know, we'll be doing the same thing in the year. >> And then we'll be communicating >> the same way. making sure the process when you say communicate >> the 35 >> oh the 35 positions we we have a process that we have that we have uh in place uh you know there will be letters there will be meetings held you know nothing nothing will be impersonal we're not sending emails or you know or letters to anybody's house we're going to uh we're

051going to meet with everybody in person and we'll we'll share with them um what you know what is actually going on >> good questions any more questions What kind of resources are we providing to the people that we lay off as far as support for getting other positions? >> That that's a great uh that's a great question. I I've I've reached out to um a couple different um districts that have gone through this um with the ESC specifically. What I'm going to do is I'm going to provide a a list of of positions, not people, a list of positions that we have um that we have eliminated in a sense. Once I provide them that list, she's going to share with the 16 county districts. And then if someone is interested in that position, then

052I will forward that information of that individual that did not have that job. I will forward that information to the ESC and she'll make sure she she will make sure it fits to each um to each district that that uh that may be looking for that position. So, and I'll say I I'll say this frankly as well. Said in the superintendent meeting last Tuesday, well, this past Tuesday, everybody is having these same conversations. Everybody some people are not there yet, but they're they're going to be there, but some people are in worse situations than we are. and uh they're trying to figure out how in the world they're gonna keep running school and make school a beneficial part of a student's life of the kids life with the uh you know with the situation that

053uh that we're in along with sharing the consortium you know going back to your point sharing information on the the consortium about open positions so on and so forth but that county uh that county move where we where we share amongst each other is going to be huge and we'll make sure You let all staff share that. Okay. Thank you for the detailed information. It's really appreciated. Next on our agenda is number four, the treasures report. >> Yes, I have several items for action tonight. Um, the first is asking for approval of the January 8th, 2026 organizational meeting minutes, January 8th, 2026 work session minutes, and the January 2020 22nd, 2026 regular meeting minutes. I need a motion to approve the January 20 the January 8th organizational meeting minutes. January 8th, 2026 work session work

054session minutes and the 22nd door meeting minutes on motion. >> Mrs. Simmons, >> yes. >> Mr. Lumpin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Currington, >> yes. >> Mrs. G, yes. >> Mrs. Cherry, >> yes. The next thing I have, we have um an amended appropriation. I brought you an amended appropriation last month for some of our own accounts. There is a new nonpublic school operating in Trotwood Salem Christian Academy. And um they receive auxiliary funds from the state of Ohio and those funds were sent to us to manage which is one of their two options. They can manage them or we can manage them. We are managing them this year. They've already let us know next year they're going to opt to manage them themselves, but those um we had to appropriate those funds to be able

055to budget them to spend for them. We do receive a 2% indirect cost fee to manage those funds and it's it's only about $30,000. So that is um what is in that amended appropriation, just those funds for Salem Christian Academy and I would ask for approval um for that. Does anyone have any questions? I need a motion to approve the amended appropriations. >> Mrs. Simmons, >> yes. >> Mrs. Currington, >> yes. >> Mr. Lumpin, >> yes. >> Mrs. G, >> Mrs. Cherry, >> yes. The next item I'm bringing to you tonight is the approval of a ven and now certificate. Um, we have to have board approval when we have we have committed to spending more than $3,000 without a purchase order signed by me in place. And this one is actually coming to you

056from the treasurer's office. um our bank fees to PNC Bank in the amount of $14,582.39 for the calendar year of 2025, which is January of 25 through December of 25. Um the bill came for those in um in Janu in Janu end of January, we opened in February. We did not have a purchase order in place. So for us to be able to pay those fees, we need the approval of the board. So, I'm asking for action on that this evening. >> I'm sorry. When did you say New >> They came in in Janu in January, we had a week of snow day. We had things and then >> Yeah, we just we weren't anticipating it. Um I we had finance committee. I would say, you know, a lot of time in my personal bank

057account, the fees come out of your account. You don't have to give the bank a check for the fees. This is a different setup that I wasn't used to and and the office didn't anticipate with new staff. So, I do have the list of fees if you'd like to review them, but um it is for the entire year and we we so far have received good service from any questions. Other questions? >> Well, we we discussed it. We we thought it was weird that it didn't come out monthly. It came to one field at the end of the year. >> So 14,000 >> per year in the bank. >> Yes. >> I did I did share with finance committee. Um I think this is a good opportunity to talk to other treasures in the district

058about their banking experience. You know, who they're using and and fee structures and things like that as well. I don't I don't necessarily have a question, but just in the environment that we're in, >> like when you see a number like that, >> that's like a financial institution should be telling you what that what that >> I do and I have a detailed statement that I can share with the board, too. I I would suggest doing without getting too far in because I can't >> I would suggest doing some sort of comparative analysis >> with another financial institution. >> You can save money. Clear a motion to approve the certificate to PNC Bank in the amount of $14,582.39. Adams Yes. Mr. Lumpin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Simmons. Yes. >> Mrs. Currington. Yes. >> Mrs. Giz.

059>> Mrs. Cherry. >> Yes. >> Then the last thing I have for you um asking for approval tonight is the financial forecast. Um a couple of things I will just point out to you. Um and you have this in front of you. It looks like it's like this. Um in the revenue section 1.035 and 1.040 our unrestricted state grants and aid and rest restricted state grants and aid that is our um state funding actually went up a little bit from our October forecast and in taking a look at that we had 38 more students enrolled between August our first payment in August and our first payment in February. So, um, that's nice to see that that there's a little bit more money there. Um, there are a couple and and this really had to align

060with the reduction plan that we submitted. Um, so under expenditures, there are some very minor changes in personnel services to account for staff that left after the year started and we chose not to fill their positions. Um, and then we also when we were really digging into and reviewing things decided that we needed to add just a bit to purchase services um to ensure that we had enough there to cover some of our contracts this year. On the back before um I finish I'll just draw your attention to line 12.010 010 the fund balance. And if we look at fiscal year 28, we are projecting that we will end the year with 3,384,71. If we look at fiscal year 29, we are back in a negative. So negative2,176,988. So, as I said during the presentation,

061um our plan for reductions gets us where we need to be by the end of 2028. But if we um work on our August forecast and we're still showing that negative balance in this school year 2029, we'll have to do another official plan with the state. So, just something to keep in mind. And then I am asking for um approval of the financial forecast this evening. I need a mot a motion to approve the financial forecast. >> I'll second. >> Yes. Mrs. Simmons. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lumpkin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Currington. >> Yes. >> Mrs. G. >> And Mrs. Cherry. >> Yes. >> Thank you. And that's all I have for you this evening. >> Thank you. Next is our superintendent report. >> Okay. I do have a few items all for action this

062evening. The first item is um item A. Uh coming back around to approval of the inlation payments. Um the board did ask for a um comparative analysis to last for last year to this year in your folder. uh you'll know folder I provided that to you the document is identified as 5A out out of um last year um our total at this point was uh 77, uh 04640. This year with the increase and the the increase the slight increase, it's not not a huge increase of students but it is more. we're looking at uh 93,23122 and again that is a um that is a um that's a state law with regards to the new payments. So um it is something that we uh we'll verify in uh we'll verify in March and then we'll do

063one more verification. Miss Rogers does one more verification in uh in May and then at that point we'll start um putting the POS on start putting the POS on and um and go from there to get those checks out to the uh to the staff I mean to to the family. So I even asking for action on that decision. >> Yes ma'am. I need a motion to approve the end of transportation payments for 2025 2026. Speaker motion motion. I need a second. And I need a second. >> Mrs. Simmons. >> Yes. >> Mrs. G. Mr. Lumpkin. >> No. >> Mrs. Currington. >> Mrs. Cherry. >> No. So I do want to say that you know that the the vote although although it is not the resolution is not passed. If we do not proceed with

064this then uh there will be ramifications um with regards to um who who who knows >> you know Well, they'll they'll take money from us. >> Joe, let me go back. >> I abstained for a reason. I felt like because I have a grandchild on that list, I should not vote yes. But if we if it will get us over this hurdle, I'll change my vote to yes. >> Since it it has a financial impact on your family, you are correct to abstain. >> So, I mean, this is not something that we can not not pass. I want to I want to make something clear to the board of education. I say no because my reflection of it not to influence anyone else's vote >> and the state of Ohio. I mean, how many students

065did we lose? It wasn't really the number of students that we lost to private institutions. It's because they raised the cost, >> right, >> of what they paid to do, >> right? So, I have a right as a board member to say no to that. However, it is the state law that we have to pass it. I don't say no to influence anyone else's decision. So, you know, I understand that the board that that Charwood has to make those payments. My vote is a protest vote against the Ohio law that continue to attack public schools. So, you know, I I just want to make sure I put that on the floor like it's not to influence anybody else and and with the, you know, with the acknowledgement and and uh an understanding of that, you

066know, we also have to take in consideration that, you know, if if we do not pass this resolution, you know, >> listen, >> it it it'll lead into >> I'll change my >> it'll lead into it'll lead into litigation. It'll lead into Right. >> Yeah. It'll lead into a lot of and it and it may be twice that amount ultimately. I I'll change my vote to yes. >> That's fine. >> Mrs. Chair, would you like me to call the role again? >> Yes, please. >> Mrs. Simmons, >> yes. >> Mrs. G, >> yes. >> Mr. Lumpin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Currington, >> I abstain. >> Mrs. Cherry, >> no. Thank you with an attitude. >> Three. I I do I do understand. I do understand. Um the next uh >> it's just it's just extremely

067frustrating. We have very hardworking administrators and teachers that are trying to educate kids. And you know, in that same vein, we bust students to a school right now that perform poorer than Charville Madison does. So, make that make sense. There are people who live in our school district who are choosing a worse education for their students. And at some point, you know, we have to stand up to it. >> I won't item number B. >> The next item uh I have for um for action this evening is the approval of donation for the STEM support from uh right memorial chapter 212 of the Air Force Association. If you uh click on the attachment, you will see the letter from Miss Murdoch. This donation uh is for $2,000 and they are asking uh the board to

068accept this this check. >> Are there any questions in reference to the donation? >> No questions. Need a motion. I >> motion second. Miss. >> Yes. Mrs. Simmons. >> Yes. >> Mrs. Currington. >> Yes. >> Mr. Lumpin. >> Yes. >> Mrs. G. >> Mrs. Cherry. >> Yes. >> All right. And in conclusion, the last item is the personnel agenda. The agenda was forwarded to the board Friday. If you take a look again, it is uh not a big agenda. some appointments to supplemental positions. Uh one retirement uh and as stated prior, you know, every retirement uh could possibly be u you know supporting for support for you know someone that is possibly on that list. But I am asking for action on this item. >> As Mr. Howard has mentioned, he has already forwarded the

069personnel agenda as he all the time. Do you have any questions in reference to the person agenda? There are no questions. I need a motion to approve to approve. >> I'll second. >> Mrs. Adams, >> Mrs. Currington, >> yes. >> Mr. Lumpin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Simmons, >> yes. >> Mrs. G. Mrs. Cherry, >> yes. Next on our agenda is discuss discussion items. >> Okay. This evening I do have um several items with um information to uh to update the board. The first um two are in response to some questions from last board meeting. Item A is the uh RAM pathway graduation update. I provided a couple of uh briefs for the board in response to those questions from last uh last meeting. What you have in front of you uh denoted as item memo,

070excuse me, 6A/B. The first page is the total number of students, senior students that are in the um the senior students that are in the RAM pathways program. Again, this information was a respon was in response to the uh the information we shared about students on track for graduation. And the question was asked, how many of those students, those senior students are in the the RAM pathways program? So, as of right now, there are 40 students identified as four-year students or seniors. 21 of those seniors are projected to graduate on time. 19 of those seniors are currently behind pace but engaged in intervention supports including those alternative pathway options and those strategies are credit recovery accelerated coursework placement into alternative graduation pathways program that align with state requirements. There are five students that are demonstrating

071minimal or no progress. So five of those 19 uh and this progress is due to non-attendance or limited participation despite ongoing outreach to students and families. So uh those five students they have been identified and we are working to try to really see what's going on with those those five kids in in the pathway program. As far as movement is concerned, there were 52 seniors that were were in the program at the beginning of the year. Of those 52, several of them have transitioned back to the high school setting, which is a good thing. Uh, you know, that they've gotten themselves either back on track or, uh, they, you know, corrected some, um, some behavioral issues, concerns, and they're back in the, uh, they're back in the high school. Uh, the current total of 40

072reflects the verified forest four-year senior cohort to date. So students that came in the building four years three years ago as a freshman and that are now identified as as 12th graders, not based on credits, but based on the years that they've been that they've been in the district. And of those 21 are on track, 19 we're working on and those five, we got to figure figure out what we're going to do with those. >> These are just Ram Nation students, right? >> Ram. Yes, that was the request. Who are the se what are the seniors, right? >> Who are the seniors? How many of those students on track are Ram Nation students or Ram path students? How many of those seniors that were in the graduation coation? >> Any questions? >> Thank you for

073that information. >> I see Miss Car. I'll do the best I can to answer. Okay. >> Yeah. >> Okay. All right. The next um item denoted as uh C 6 C in your back up, >> right? Yep. Uh 6C was the water bill update. So um from the February 5th meeting, there were questions about the um the water bill. So just for some some context, water and sewer sewer services are built quarterly across district facilities. Cost reflects seasonal usage patterns tied to full school operations, athletics, extracurricular programming, facility facility use utilization, and reduced cost during breaks and summer recess. So the 2425 actual expenditures for five buildings was $124,000 6 $124,6441 for five buildings. Uh we are in a unique circumstance where five of our buildings are on city water and then one of our

074building is on county water and cities and that's west. So, uh, we get two different water bills based on, um, you know, based on how how it how it works itself works itself out. So, the total for Westbrook for the year was 2973697. Total expenditures for FY2425 was 154 38108. for uh 2526 year to date citywide for five buildings was 84 512 21 that large uh expenditure that that question that that was forwarded to me about that 70k that was a quarter basic remember we move from the summer where nothing's going on really to we get into the middle of the we get into fall where you got football you got you got everything you got soccer you got all those activities going on and then school's back in session So you get that big

075b you get those big deals you usually get about two big bills and then the last one at the end of the year is um is much smaller. So um with with city water and of course that also reflects the increase as well and then Westbrook the county reserve year to date is uh projected expenditures for the year with the city the city estimate is between 140 and 150. So you will you will see an increase. And then uh Westbrook Village uh with the county water reserve water and sewage reserve our estimate estimate is uh between 28 and 35,000. Um usage consideration increase second quarter expenditures reflect full academic operations, fall athletics and extra extracurricular activities, winter athletic programming including swimming operations, filling up their pool and uh upcoming billing cycles may be may remain

076elevated due to completion of winter sports, spring activities and the increased cost from the city of Troywood. So just quick question, Mr. Howard. I mean, I know that we rent out the pool. Have we um added that cost? >> So all of that money that we rent out for the pool is considered revenue. So those checks are written to the district. >> Sure. Have we increased the cost due to the water rising on us? Have we increased our prices of the rental the customer? >> Great question. Not yet. >> Okay. >> Not yet. Um, we have a >> the cost of everyone who voted or something. >> Well, everyone >> Well, that that that's a that's a that's a great point, too. That's a great point, too. And we can have a whole conversation about

077that. >> But session, >> yes, we we have increased the cost for the for the GW swim meet. We have increased they they have a different cost but what we've done traditionally is all of that money that has come into the pool that has come into the pool for rental >> we have redirected that back to the athletic program. Now it's really it's all the same money because if we don't you know if we don't give them that money we're still going to have to front them some money anyway. >> We just want to increase the people that's renting from us because our price we're paying more. So what we what we have to do is and and I will work on that. We have to re-evaluate our fee schedule. Yes. And then the board

078will have to then vote on the fee schedule. >> Uh with with uh reflection of those. >> Yes. >> And then >> we can't we can't assume the we can't it's not fair for us to assume the cost. >> Absolutely. >> Yes. >> So any more questions on that? The water bill. I received that that question. I want to make sure I >> did. Great, Mr. >> Okay. Uh, moving along. See what's next. Uh, meeting with Dr. Smith, executive director of admissions at Central State University. uh the board has uh expressed uh over over several meetings um what was our interaction and our um dialogue with uh Central State. U Mr. Nadier and I had a great great meeting earlier this week with the new admissions director at Central State University, Dr. William Smith. I

079provided you a summary of the meeting via email. Uh we talked about uh reestablishing our connection with central. Uh we talked about um part partnership opportunities. We talked about CCP. Mrs. Murdoch has been engaged in in CCP. Um doc CCP conversations with Central State College uh college career I mean excuse me college career plus CCP college credit plus excuse me. Um, we also talked about uh one of our one of the really exciting things is Dr. Smith would like to have a um a C a CSU I don't know remember exactly what he called it, Mr. May. Uh just like a C CSU preview day on site here >> where um he brings uh the the band uh different um different schools, colleges, humanities. He talked about all the different colleges and we bring them

080here and we set them up in our in our cafeteria on like a Saturday morning. We have a tentative date uh April 11th and um where they you know and we open it up to the community. >> We open up to the community. We open open it up to other school districts. But, you know, and I I'll be frank uh the gentleman was um was extremely um extremely motivated >> to reconnect with uh reconnect with Troutwood, reconnect with um well, reconnect with Troutwood specifically and he had a lot of energy and he um he acknowledged the fact that Central State is is in need of kids and there should be no reason we are not sending kids to him in hordes. every year because he explained to us the admissions pro process. He explains to

081us explained to us how he he's going to he's going to get kids in if we send them that he's going to get I mean he he just was really excited about about the uh about the partnership and ask Mr. They do. You got anything to to chime in with regards to that? maybe like I like tell you They have already Is that a follow on Monday? We had So with that being said, Murdoch is working on CCP. Mr. Mr. Nadier is is in essence the point person for everything else with regards to this connection. And our goal is, especially for those marginal kids, those kids that >> are not quite sure what their next step is, >> is to get them on Central State's campus, to get them on Sinclair's campus because we got

082something brewing with with Sinclair as well. And and I'll give you a little bit more information as far as that is concerned. But, you know, we got kids that we know are going places, other places, but we got some marginal kids that if they're not quite sure about what that next step is, whether they're going in the workforce, whether they're going to the military, or whether or not college is uh is for them, um Dr. Dr. Smith, excuse me, Dr. Smith was uh was really excited about let's show them what what we have to offer and then maybe that will uh maybe that will help those kids make decisions. So, we're excited about that partnership. U Mrs. Murdoch, you got any followup about CCP? >> So, we're working with Central. Miss Murdo Murdoch is working

083with Central to establish and Miss Murdoch has kind of she's kind of been in the forefront of this because one of the things she told them is let let me see a schedule and she created one for them of what it would look like if we've got some kids that are interested in CCP especially some of those 11th and 12th graders that you know may need some additional uh additional related arts classes or additional uh you know course offerings where we can get them on a bus as long as it doesn't fall fall in that standard fleet uh we'll get them on the bus and we'll take them to Dayton West and they can spend the day down there and get college courses and college credit, you know. So, we're we're really excited about this

084partnership. And one of the things I said to uh Dr. Harris, and I'm going to quit talking about this because it is exciting is that we have been in these conversations before. We've started to have these conversations before and then all of a sudden >> it just goes away because somebody leaves or somebody >> somebody you know gets you know gets laid off for we have to continue these conversations because every time we stop stop and start over we we're missing out on some people but you know Mr. Nadier uh spoke to those 30 plus kids so we're really excited about that and uh Dr. here. Uh he he may even come out to meet you guys here in the uh in the future. >> I have two questions. One um you said August the

08511th. >> I mean April April 11. You have a time >> it's all tentative right now but it >> we're looking at a maybe like a 10 to one something like that 10 to one 10 to two. >> And then my next question is for Mr. Nar. um is there in parental involvement um with the 31 students because you said that you know they may have applied it and may not and I just know from um past experience some kids attempt and then have no parental guidance you know sometimes the counselor may may drop the ball not saying that they have um right here in Trowood but you know um what type of guidance will these students have I know you said that you're going to meet with them outside of you Dr. Okay. without

086a little And although we have um how do we plan to advertise it to make sure that the students show And will it be just a problem? >> Um, working on finalizing the date, working on the content of of the day. And then no, we would like to open it to whomever. >> But we want he wants to he wants to house it here. Yes. He wants to make sure our kids are here, >> but he wants to open it up to uh he wants to open it up to whomever. We we don't have a problem. Yeah. We don't have a problem. And then along the lines with the, you know, taking them to preview day like the athletic department and and Mrs. Foster and you know what she's done, Miss Foster Jones. I mean,

087we just, you have to continue to foster this relationship so you know we can help them help us, you know, in a sense. >> Thank you. >> Okay, moving along. Almost there. Um, D, pathway to 100% student success. This is something we also talked about last uh last board meeting in your packet. I've included a couple of things with regards to this pathway. I included another copy of the strategic plan. You may have 10 copies of this, but it's going to stay in your face and keep talking about it because we're moving our way through these other things, these other issues, but we have to keep this in the focus. The second page is the strategic plan progress update. And then on the back of that, it talks about the the the things that we

088are going to do as as a district to ensure that we are implementing the strategic plan. So this is just not a piece of paper, you know, we're going to hold ourselves accountable to these bullet points to ensure that these are the things that we focus on. And then finally once we implement our strategic plan once we progress monitor then what is the end project what the product the end product and we talked about this portrait of a graduate. So in your folder, what I've included portrait of a graduate slash pathway to 100 100% student success are first some examples of portraits of graduates from all across the country. Just to give you a a sample of what school districts are expecting on the at the end of a 12 year, threeyear, two-year experience with

089the school district, what they're expecting from their kids, what they're expecting from their graduates. And then with that, I have provided some brainstorming. you there on the second page, just some brainstorming that I've done along with uh working with um working with Allison Hill and then some some more work that I'm going to do with the executive cabinet and some other people we're going to pull in. These brainstorming concepts are some of the things that would be standard expectations for what we want our kids to be able to do when they leave Tropical Madison City Schools. There's 10 of them here. You want to get it down to four or five. But when you talk about being a lifelong learner, being a critical thinker, being a collaborative and decisive decision maker, being an informed, engaged

090and ethical community and global citizen, being a critical thinker and problem solver, diligent and resilient work ethic, respectful and skilled communicator, college workforce or military service or career ready, emotionally intelligent and exhibiting leadership. These are just some general brainstorming ideas that I just want to make sure I keep on your guys' plate as we talk about what a graduate from Troutwood Madison City Schools looks like and then what is that pathway to this? I want to make sure that this stays in your face. We're going to continue to work through this. We're going to continue to to um to refine this. We'll get some other folks involved and then towards the end of the year or the fall of next year, we'll have a presentation to the board about what our pathways to to student

091success is what it looks like. And there is no more fiscal update for this over the last talent. >> And that is all I have. I'm going to take a drink of water. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Ver. >> Next, it's our treasurer comments. >> Um, I would just like to, um, officially welcome our new board member, Erica G, to the table tonight. Um, it's great to have you on board. And that's all I have for tonight. Thank you. finish your seat. >> I did. Back to me again. >> Okay. Uh I will be very quick. The first is in your uh in your packet. You have a um you have some staple staple documents for you. The first is a list of the black history. I've updated the black history program schedule for

092you. I wanted to make sure I provided all of the updated dates. So, this has this has changed from the information that I gave you on your superintendence update last meeting. each um each building is having something specific to uh to black history. Please uh if you can try to attend. I want to make sure I also highlight the uh Madison Park black history pick up in uh drop everything and read black history edition. If you are interested in being a part of that, the flyer is attached next to uh is the next page and you would need to RSVP with um with Mrs. right at Madison Park where you'll come in uh you'll read something relative to uh to the content and uh you'll you know you spend a little time over at Madison

093Park but you got you got a program at the ELC you got one at Madison Park has their parade going on Westbrook has their program on the 26th middle school the 25th and the high school uh March 9th. Any questions about that? All right. Next, real quick, uh, I want to just give you a real brief look at our new website. Our new website is up, rocking and rolling. That's athletics. We're going to go to the triwood website first. Those pictures, those those pictures are Can you go back to that one, Logan? Or one of the buildings. Okay, here you go. So, those pictures, those those motion pictures, they were taken by CTC students in partnership with CTC. We work with CTC, so they came over, they they utilized their drones. Uh, then our kids

094got involved. Miss Anderson worked out, so we had a partnership. So, we got live action shots of all the buildings. Click on another one, Logan, for me. Moving slow. So, you got live action shots of all of the buildings and uh all of the information is uh most of the information is updated, but I wanted to make sure you guys saw that. We had talked about that. Got some current pictures. We got to put some more current pictures on there and talked about that earlier uh in the in the summer moving to this platform and we're really excited about it. It's >> Yeah, it's pretty it's pretty cool. >> Yeah. >> And then next is the updated athletic website. We have a new uh new athletic website that um Mr. Smith and the athletic department

095have been working diligently on to stay updated, keeping our scores, our schedules, our rosters updated, our our um our feats, the feats of our that our kids are that are accomplishing accomplishing. So, that's the new athletic website update and I'll make sure through my uh email I'll send you guys an email with the link so you can check them out yourself. We got a lot of lot of good stuff going on with regards to that. Um last, it is testing season. We're on the horizon of testing season. I think testing season start gets going in April. So, you'll hear me talking about that uh a lot more over the next um next couple of um next couple of meetings. And uh finally, Jill and I, Miss Adams and I met with um all the superintendents

096and treasures from the county. We met with uh County Commissioner Carolyn Rice and we talked about some of the same stuff and still spinning our wheels. But I do want to say that uh you know we had a meeting with her. She voiced her support for for us but she was very adamant that she was just one voice. Uh so Jill, you got anything to add to that? >> I don't I don't think so. It was I mean it it was a very common message among the districts delivered to her and she was interested in having stories to tell when she was going to DC this evening. So um it was nice to be included in that. >> I'm done. >> All right. Hopefully you got any questions always just let me know. >> Thank

097you. Now our board comments and we're going to start with our newest board member. I just want to thank everybody for the welcome. Um I want to congratulate our athletes our athletes. I had a great time this past weekend and activities. I even enjoyed playing the bowl um this week. So I I just I'm very happy in the behavior and everything. I just hope we keep that momentum going. >> Thank you, Mr. Frerier. Um first off, I just want to thank you all for staying late to listen to us. Um that's that's a form of support to me that you're supporting the board and I always want to be able to support you all as well. Um, and in saying that, I want to say on behalf of me, and I won't speak for the

098other board members, but I thank all of the building staff, all of the faculty, all of the staff for the cost-saving um, efforts you are making in the building. It's not going unnoticed. Um, and we just thank everybody for doing their part. That's important that you hear that from us. Um, and I do plan to get around to some of the schools this week, Miss Harden, tomorrow, Mr. Howard, if that's all right with you. I'll probably I'll be over at Westfield Village. I thought I would be there on the day of the um science fair. Um, but on another note, we do not take lightly, I think I can speak for all of us, we do not take lightly um making cuts to anybody. I'm an individual. I'm a human first. Um with bills just

099like everybody else. And it is disheartening. And it's not any fault of anybody here, but we do have legislators. You do have politicians who don't think this is important. Don't think this is important or they think that there's more money to be made somewhere else. And that's true choice. It's all about the dollars and we all understand that. So in saying that, everybody has to do their part. We have to get out and vote. We have to put people in the office that believe in free education. Um I'm a product of free education and went on to college. My girls are a product of free education, public education. And they got a good sound education and they didn't stop here. So, public education, it is needed. Um, and so I'll keep fighting for that. I'll

100keep advocating for that as long as as long as I'm breathing because I think it's important. I did not get I was one of those marginalized um students that Mr. How would talk about. I did not get serious about school until my senior year. I did not. And then I didn't get serious about higher education until I had kids. So it's it's very important that they have people that advocate for them and people to go out and be a sounding board to say you can do this. There are and and it's just showing shown in this room people who genuinely care about kids Mr. Nadir, Miss Murdoch, Miss Harden, I mean Miss and it it's just empowered. >> The things that you all do for these students every day, it shows us that we have

101some of the best of the best and we will keep fighting not only for our students but for our staff that show up every day and I want to get home before the storm starts for our last education is important. True choice is a choice but not my choice. >> Mr. L. >> Yes. So, just thank you to all of the administrators that are here and our staff um that services our students every day. And I do want to point something out that Miss Adam said though because we've been on this journey the last couple of months of making sure that we highlight cuts to public education. So during her presentation, she talked about state funding from that is being funded for fiscal year 2022. So just so that the community understands what what that

102means. And this a bipartisan legislation was passed for fair school funding and they are now making what's an unconstitutional decision to not fund at the current levels of funding so that public schools cannot function. It is intentional by the state legislature that they are doing it. The other thing that she mentioned that I want to highlight for everybody that's watching, everybody that's listening, is the reduction of the supplemental target assistance fund, which is a a direct attack on school districts like ours. A million dollars out of a budget for public school and urban areas. That's who that attacks. Okay. So, much like Miss Kurrington said, your politicians matter. There's one thing that's just a little bit scarier than that is that right now Montgomery County is saying that they support public schools and they're not

103going to mess with levies. Your election in in November matters and the candidates that are from here are not the ones that represent us. So, we just want to make sure that we're we're highlighting that and spotlighting that. Um, but congratulations to all of our students uh that are that are achieving great things. That's very exciting to hear about the work that's being done with Central State University and connecting back to their campus. And even though it's tough, it's tough and it's hard times. Um, we're still going to get through it and keep doing the hard work. >> Thank you. >> Those are two hard acts to follow. However, I would like to again thank Aiden Cox and Malaysia Mackkins who opened our uh meeting um with our meeting station meeting statement this mission statement

104uh this evening. Um and also um congratulations to those 31 students that have applied to um Central State University and we hope they truly have applied. Um thank you Mr. dear for being a hands-on staff person. And as my other two web mort says, thank all of you for being h hands-on staff people every day um with your families and with the students. Um Mr. Howard says something that makes sense and is profound. Um protect what matters. Um we know that we will have to make these cuts. Um they were not have not been taken lightly um for those 35 staff positions. So you all will be um we will be sending positive thoughts and prayers that you land somewhere um good as Miss Carrantine said we all have bills and a livelihood and we

105know that's very important. So it's nothing that we have taken lightly um over the course of the months as Mr. Howard said we've been talking about it every every week and every meeting. So it's nothing that has been taken lightly and we do have lots of great things going on at here at Troutwood. So, we're going to stay on that momentum and make sure that what stays in front of us that 100% student success. And I'll end there. >> Thank you. >> Great. >> Oh, I have one more. >> One more thing. Let's highlight the students that will be participating over the next couple of weeks um in the cotillian botilian and debut top ball. Um, I think I had a list of those students name things written down and I written so many notes

106this afternoon because Mr. Howard has so much good information. So for the Cotillian we have um Nicoy Cummings and Maya Howard. Um for the debut we have Aaliyah Johnson and Bilian we have Philip Knight. And we know that parents put a lot of hard work and families for these students to participate in these events. So I just wanted to give a shout out to those students. um this afternoon. >> Thank you, Vice President Simmons. Um I just totally agree with all of the board members. Everything they have said, I totally agree with it. It's so unfortunate that public education is under attack. I too am a um a graduate. I'm a graduate from Bane Public, but my daughter graduated from Swood and I do believe that I will always always support and advocate for public

107education. Um, our v our mission, our strategic plan, our vision has not changed. Like Mr. Howard said, we need to protect our classroom, our student success, and our instruction. Um there are some good things going on in Triwood and I just want to focus on the good things. Um it's always negative things that's going on. I just want to continue to focus on on the good things and we as the board I I'm hoping that you all will support. We are all in this together. We say this all the time. We're all in this together. We all matters. There's no personal agendas. We all matter and we're going to support our superintendent and treasure our administrators to the best of our ability. No hidden agendas. With that being said, I need a motion to move

108into executive session to consider the appointment dismissal discipline motion emotion and compensation of a public employee or official for the investigation of charges of complaints against a public employee official licency or regulated individual per policy 0166 N121.22 2 G1 action may be taken. It's been moved. Mr. Adams, you call the R. >> Yes. Mrs. Simmons, >> yes. >> Mr. Lumpin, >> yes. >> Mrs. Currington, >> yes. >> Mrs. G, >> Mrs. Cherry, >> yes. Motion passes. We will enter into executive session at 7:15.