001Mr. Romano, please take RO. >> Mr. Pat, >> present. >> Mr. Chumley, >> present. >> Mr. Rudy, >> present. >> Miss Samborg, >> present. >> Mrs. Spencer, >> present. >> All present. Thank you. Uh, please join me for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Next up is the motion to adopt the agenda. Would someone like to make a motion? Some move. >> Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there a second? >> Spencer. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rudy, >> yes. >> Mrs. Spencer, >> yes. >> Mr. Patton, >> yes. >> Mr. Chumley, >> yes. >> Miss Sam, >>
002yes. >> Five, yes. >> Next up is West Claremont Master Teachers. >> Jimmy. >> All right, if our master teacher honores could come forward. Come on, you can come. You can come with me. >> All right. So, tonight we honor seven teachers who have who are actually all renewing their master teacher um awards this this year. So, congratulations to those teachers who demonstrate excellence inside and outside of the classroom through consistent leadership and focused collaboration to maximize student learning and meet the requirements to renew their status as a master teacher. A master teacher strives for distinguished teaching and continued professional growth as specified by the Ohio standards for the teaching profession. Master teachers achieve exemplary scores in four or five areas. Consistent leadership, focused collaboration, distinguished teaching, focus on students and environment, distinguished teaching, focus
003on content, instruction and assessment, and continued professional growth. So the uh amount of work and their portfolios that are collected in the evidence is truly remarkable. So um these seven well we have two that were not able to make it tonight for personal reasons. uh but we were able to celebrate these amazing master teachers today at their schools in front of their students. So all of them shared with their students that they are the evidence um and part of that professional growth. So that was a special a special time. I'd also like to recognize that there's a master teacher committee. It's led by our chair here, Kim uh Sears, and then Reena serves on that. Barb serves on that. And Rachel Debback here is our administrator that serves on that from the West Claremont. And
004so not only do they score and look through every piece of evidence, but along that way they serve as mentors and colleagues um in helping those people and there are sometimes there are new master teachers. We're just on a year right now that we have all renewal. So um we will have them come in order and Josh will will give them their renewal pin with Kim and their awards. So Reena Ford and Reena serves at the West Claremont Middle School. We have uh Barb Kenny who is at Holly Hill. We have Kendra Hampton who is at West Claremont Middle School. We have Andrea Tact who is at the high school and Matt Spangler who uh works in our gifted program and houses himself he says at Summerside. though. >> So, congratulations again and thank you
005for um that dedication to your work. as they're taking a picture. I'd like to say um be being a master teacher or renewing as a master teacher is not an easy task. There's so much that they have to do, so much data they have to put together, so much research they have to do. Um and these these staff members, these teachers do it hard every day for the sole purpose of just being better educators, for making themselves better so they can they can translate that to their their students. And so I truly do appreciate all the hard work they're doing and I appreciate all the hard work that the the master teacher committee was when I was in my former chair spent time with uh with Miss Sears and uh going through that process and
006it is a daunting task but they do it well and our teachers can our teachers work very tirelessly in order to just be better at what they do so our kids get to benefit from that. >> I'd like to give special kudos to uh Mrs. Ford. you're on your way out the door and you're still doing it. That's very commendable. Thank you. >> It's hard to be a committee member and not to uphold the work and true. Um, you know, I really felt with this being my last year, um, you know, I really needed to set that example and I find so much value in reflecting on your work and so I wanted to really finish strong. >> Great. Thank you again. Thank you. >> Okay, next up is public speaking. Uh at each meeting,
007the board president will recognize visitors uh wish who wish to be heard. Uh they are asked to fill out a card um and give it to the president or the treasur before the meeting. Visitors who wish to address the board are asked to state their name, address, and school or organization. Remarks must be addressed to the board and should be brief three minutes and to the point. Speakers may offer such as objective criticism or suggestions um regarding school operations or programs. The board will not hear personal complaints of school personnel or against any person connected with the schools district unless those complaints have first been addressed through the individual departments or administrative uh in involved. We do have one guest speaker, doctor, please. >> Yep. Yes, please. Yep. Thank you. Um, I have a comment
008to make. Uh, I had surgery in my eye, my left eye two years ago and the doctor screwed up. So, when I'm reading it tears up and it gets blurry, so I have to like remove and wipe. That's going to take some time off my 3 minutes just to let you know. Do I still >> It's unfortunate. It's a running clock for three minutes. So, you have three minutes. >> So, okay. So, no matter my situation, >> three minutes. Yep. What is your name, sir? >> My name is Dr. Gabriel Alongbe. A L U N G B E. >> Thank you. >> Good evening. My name is Dr. Gabriel Along. I am a career educator and former university department chair. I have provided each of you with our 80page uh evidence portfolio. I must begin
009by rejecting the administration's characterization of my policy proposal as a mer individual scheduling dispute. This is factually incorrect. I am here to address systemic administrative failures regarding oversight, data integrity, and professional equity that affect every family in this district. My first two proposals address administrative gatekeeping. Proposal one mandates at uh a consent pro uh pro protocol to ensure west clmont complies with fer and oc regarding equal parenting participation in academic planning. Proposal two requires that all scheduling materials be published digitally on power school no later than February 1st. We must ensure that access to our high techch future especially tracks like coding the future it's determined by transparent calendar calendar not by hidden documents or late notice forms. Secondly, we have data integrity crisis on page 47 and 54 of the pro of the portfolio
010uh that uh was provided to you. A teacher dismisses a grade seven assessment from when my daughter was 8 years old as just a typed mistake. This is not a typo. It is >> sir. Unfortunately, you've reached your time on the three minutes. Um, so you've hit your time. Okay. I'm I'm sorry, but you've hit your three minutes. We do have that information for us to review. >> Can I can I give you the >> You can give it to Mr. Drew. He'll make sure we get it. >> We'll make sure we get it. >> Thank you. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. I I have Oh, and actually this is for you. I appreciate you in in color. Yeah, sir. >> Yeah, >> I I do appreciate you. Okay, >> you're welcome. Thank you for the
011opportunity. But you know, I have >> I No worries. >> Um, so next up is the letter of support for the development of a regional fire department training tower in Union Township. >> Yes. So, um, uh, Chief Clemens reached out to us and is working on a letter of support for development of regional fire department training tower. He is here this evening to to talk us through a little bit more about that and to answer any questions I may have. Chief Clemens, if you'd like to come up. >> Thank you, Dr. Folz. Good evening, board. Appreciate the opportunity to speak with you tonight. Again, my name is Austin Clemens. I'm the fire chief here at Union Township. Um really what I'm what I'm looking for tonight is uh is a letter supporting uh uh an
012opportunity for us to to build a training tower for our fire department. Um what this would do for for our department would be uh an opportunity to train daily whereas currently we we got to utilize Lovelin training tower. So it's it's quite of a logistical u headache when we try to go up there to train. So building this training tower here in Union Township would would benefit our department but also opens up an opportunity for us to collaborate more with our community. Uh one being West Claremont School District. I I view this as an opportunity to bring in junior seniors that are that are currently going to the Oaks for additional training. uh partnering with the Oaks as well to allow them to utilize this this structure uh for additional uh classes they can hold
013to get more more kids and youth involved in the fire service and hopefully help get people interested in being uh being a firefighter because right now we're we're at a spot where we're we're in desperate need of people that want to get into this field. And uh so really this this letter is is something that we're going to use uh for funding. it is. We're reaching out to any political agency that is or not agency, excuse me, uh political office that is that is offering grant opportunities. Um there are several out there right now that we've been in contact with that that request letters here that support this this program. Um, so tonight I'm asking for nothing more than uh not not a necessarily a partnership, but just something that says that the the board
014would support uh Union Township Fire Department having a training facility that who knows what the what the opportunities could present. So I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have on the tower specifically or if anything else you may be curious about. >> I just have a question. Have you picked a location that you think is Yeah. So the as you all know finding property can be be a challenge. Um so very fortunate enough that the board of trustees here in Union Township along with the administrator Mr. Corey Wright uh have allowed me to pursue Ker Park uh which is property already owned by the township. Um we've identified the site there is is an opportunity for us to to build on. Right. I I personally think this is a good thing with the
015relationship that West Claremont has with Union Township, both the police, fire, and the township trustees. Um, so I I think this is a positive thing and obviously, if I'm hearing you correctly, our kids would be able to benefit it if there was using some things. Um, so I >> I don't see the downside. >> No, I continue to appreciate the partnership that we have with the township. So, >> we appreciate that. And what we keep seeing too is that there the um getting people interested in that is important because of I believe a as with many many professions there's the retirement age is starting to drop off and we need to get people able to do that and uh Mr. Epar could probably attest to that as much as I can with we know that
016the Oaks programs fill up fast and if this is a way to get our kids interested in it and a part of something, you know, that keeps West Claremont kids as a part of it among other I mean among other other agencies. But >> but I I think that's always a positive if we can do some provide something like this in our in our community. >> Yeah. Okay. If you have no other questions and I I'm going to uh recommend that the board approve the letter of support for the development of a regional fire department training tower in Union Township as presented. >> Thank you, Dr. Folz. Thank you, Chief, for showing up. >> Thank you. >> So, you've heard the recommendation. I'll put that in the form of a motion. Do I have a
017second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there any discussion on that? >> Thank you. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Patton? >> Yes. >> Mr. Rudy? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chumley? >> Yes. Miss San? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Spencer? >> Yes. >> Five? Yes. >> Thank you. Thank you, Chief. So, next up is the consent agenda. We will start with uh the human resource personnel report. >> Good evening. In front of you is the personnel agenda for Monday, April 20th. We have a couple highlights on the agenda tonight. Uh we have one retirement and that is for Mike Hatfield. Mike currently serves as a dean of students at West Claremont Middle School. He has served the district for 30 years which is pretty awesome. Um, second highlight on there is that, um, I'd like
018to highlight that we're bringing two former West Claremont Wolves back home. Um, we've got Zack Gaml here and Jess Arnold. Um, they are returning to us, um, to become assistant principles at West Claremont Middle School. Both were former teachers. Um, and they they just had to get back home and so we're happy to have him. >> We're very happy about that. >> Do you have any questions regarding the personnel agenda at this time? >> I'd just like to say it's a loss with Mr. Hatfield. Good man. Thank you. >> Next, we have the everending second update of the year from January. Um, I'm asking the board to this a second reading to approve the policies as presented from policy 2431.06 through policy 8500. >> You're not going to read each one. I was >> just
019No, sit down. Sit down. >> Um, where? >> Good evening. Before you is a resolution to approve a new policy that's specific to how we manage our stop school violence grant that we have received through the Department of Justice. So, we've had this grant for the last three and a half years. um to provide for therapists um in the school buildings. Um hopefully we will be able to continue to use that grant for the next year and a half or so um until it runs out. Um but in doing programmatic review and in consultation with the department um they've believed it was necessary for us to have a more formal um policy around how we manage this grant. So specifically the ways in which we select those agencies that we have providing service and how
020we monitor the service that they provide over time. Um not that we weren't doing those things, it just makes it a little bit more formal and for the language to be in line with um what the Department of Justice um would like us to have. >> Any questions? >> Thank you. >> Okay. Item 8.04 4 is the request for approval of minutes. That is for the meeting that was held on April 6th, 2026. That was a regular business meeting. Item 8.05 is request for approval of donations uh for the previous month. I will read the donors. Milford Target, Beachmont Target, Wamsville Church of Christ, Tom Huber Memorial Fund, Heft Jones Graduate Services, uh, PE Jones Graduate Services. Item 8.06 is request recommendation for the board approve the authorization for the superintendent and treasurer to negotiate
021and execute contracts as presented. There is four of them presented. concern. Um there's a a quote for Beachmont for a bus that was per or excuse me for a truck that was purchased uh and learn well for um two uh two contracts. Item 8.07 are the financial statements bills paid and lists bills paid lists and investments for the month of March um amongst other financial reports that are being submitted. So the requesttor is approved those financial statements. Item 8.08 is request for approval of purpose and budget statements for the 2526 year. There are four different uh requests there. Mainly those are the student uh activity accounts at the school level. And so the request for the consent agenda is items 8.01 through 8.08. >> Thank you Mr. Romano. You've heard the recommendation. Would someone like
022to make a motion? >> Move. >> Mr. Rudy, thank you. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Miss Abborn. Thank you. Is there any discussion? >> Thank you. Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rudy? >> Yes. >> Miss Samborn? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Spencer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Patton? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chumley? >> Yes. >> Five? Yes. Thank you. >> As I mentioned before, we pulled the AI policy. So, we'll do a first read tonight and uh this is going to be a policy that's going to be very fluid. It's going to be ever changing as we go through this and it really hits in the technology world as well as teaching and learning. So, um Larry's been behind this with Ellie as well to help with the AI policy. So, I'm Larry tonight. He's
023the expert. Talk a little bit briefly about the AI briefly about the AI policy. So the AI policy as you know we have to have one adopted by June 30th by OC. Um we drew heavily from the Neola language but we really made sure this was customized towards the West Claremont's um needs and and vision for what AI needs to be. We had a large panel, I think 12 or so people um on that panel that um went through a guided session to really dig into uh ethical use, uh safe practices, um guidance for teachers, guidance for administrators, guidance for students and that's what this policy will show. uh and the policy is written in such a way that hopefully we are not back here uh annually with a new policy new policy new policy
024but that we can adjust and grow with the way AI develops. It really speaks a lot more to our overriding principles of of any kind of uh use of a of an educational uh piece but AI specifically in this case as required by law. >> Thank you. That was just a question. >> Okay. Now, now the presentation. >> Next, Randy and Josh are going to walk us through the re-registration process with transportation opt. So, we we have the re-registration process. Um, this is important every year for our our families to go through, but it's especially important this year. Um, and so we want to make sure that it it runs as smoothly as possible. Um, and we'll talk you through what that process typically entails. So what the re-registration process does, the families provide kind
025of their intent to return or updates to addresses. So if there's movements within the district, we're able to account for those movements um and plan accordingly within our classrooms. Um, those students may have needs that need to be planned for at the different buildings that they may move to. And so that first address update allows us to know where they're at. Um we asked them to update medical information as well that that might change over the course of the summer um over the course of the year so that we can be prepared in our clinics with certification andor um clinic staff that is able to help them. Um a highlight this year is our contact information. Um we're moving to a new platform for that and we want to make sure that we have all
026those numbers and email addresses that are necessary so that in those moments we are able to contact families. Um, that's with newsletters and probably the ever famous snow day call. We want to make sure that goes out and hits uh hits those people early at 5 am 5 am. Right, M. Dr. F. >> Between 5 and 5:30 today. >> Okay. All right. All right. We won't have any of those next year. So, we >> we used up the entire 2020s again this year. So, no more snow. >> So, we'll we'll contact them for other reasons. Uh, and lastly, uh, transportation, which uh, Mr. Gart's going to dive into a little bit deeper, um, in those changes that are coming about. You broke it. >> It did not. It did not. >> Oh, there. >> We're
027back. >> There you go. >> I don't want that. So the process will start tomorrow. We will be sending out emails to all of our email addresses kind of letting them know the re-registration process is occurring. Um instructions will be included in that email. We will also house the information on our own district website. So it's available there. So we're going to hit inboxes and also be available on our website. It'll be instructions on how to log into P school, which is the program we use for that re-registration process. If there are questions, we have amazing secretaries um at all of our buildings that are able to help answer those questions and troubleshoot any problems that might be out there. So, we're excited to get this process up and running. Mr. Ghart's going to talk
028a little bit about the transportation changes for this year. Click for me to end. All right. So, back to transportation. So that's one of the things we talked about is the implementation timeline as we presented when we started this and again information for board as you guys get questions transportation all students K through 8 regardless of address for 2627 that is what we're going in with there a lot of things out there saying that we're not doing this the two-m radius just to remind we're not changing who's coming to school or who we're picking up in 2627 at this time. So um well through 2627 because you have to do it by the year. So K through 8 we will be transporting regardless of address. Obviously those that um special education we have um opportunities
029for them as well and we'll be reaching out to them through Peterman as well. The implementation uh implementation timeline starts tomorrow the 21st. And so through re-registration, parents can opt in for transportation. I'm going to show you the questions. That's actually part of the re-registration. Um so they can opt in and we want to start that tomorrow. When do we want to have it completed? As soon as possible. In the meantime, Peterman is now working with our consultant as well in identifying those group neighborhood group stops along with their other stops. The other piece of information that we want to get out as well is that this does not change transportation for every child at West Claremont. This is only going to change for those that we implement group stops, namely culde-sacs, um, and apartment
030buildings where you're going to have a group stop. And so those are those are ones that'll change. So as a parent, what I will do is I will opt in. I'll show you the questions in a minute. And then about mid June, you'll find out where your stop is, where your bus stop, and that is when parents will find out. So what's going to happen is unfortunately we don't get these re-registrations in quickly. Hopefully it will happen. Hopefully, it'll speed it up so that by mid June, we'd like to have them all in by the end of May. By mid June, parents will know where those stops are and so that they can prepare for that. So, the re-registration, like I said, starts tomorrow, middle of June. We'll be a able to identify where you're
031going to uh get your bus and the bus stop location. We'll ask parents to continually check that all the way up to the first day of school. And then you'll have questions out there. when's the first day of school? So again, that's on the web page as well. We have that linked in here as a calendar as well. There's also a spot for if parents have a different location they want their child picked up other than their home address. There's a form that they fill out and they give that to Peterman as well. Um, so there's a five-step opt-in process. If we go to the next slide, Dan, the questions are very simple. You want to ride to school, you want to ride home, and are you at a different address? Those are the questions
032that will be on the re-registration. Very simple. And then we'll be able to pull that from there and be able to give the forms to those that need those um as we move forward. Again, this starts tomorrow. Why are we doing this? Again, on the next slide, when we went through the study again, why are we going to the neighborhood group stops again? Is to be uh fiscally responsible and to be more efficient and for safety. These are all the reasons why when we came back and we brought in a third party from Boss Logic uh came in and gave their recommendation. This is approximately where we're going to be saving about $1.5 million with the decrease in the number of routes that we're going to have. Again, this is approximate as on paper as
033we go through this things you can't control. You can't control special ed routes that we may have to add as we go down. The other piece of this that we'll do is a audit of our um transportation off campus to private and parochial and we'll do an audit so that anything above 30 minutes we will not be able to offer that to those particular people going into next year. Nothing happens this year this transportation goes by year by year. So regardless of what happens in the future, this is what we have for 2627. Then whatever happens in 27 28 depending on additional funding. >> So will the state reimburse them if they're more than 30 minutes? >> Will they reimburse us more than 30 minutes? >> Would they reimburse the family >> for inl transportation?
034They possib I mean jee if it's over 30 I don't know if that would get in little transportation >> for traditional students >> for parallel >> no 30 minutes is a state >> okay >> it's a state mandate >> so if we go to the next route again this is this is the why we went to this we passed the resolution at the board last board meeting again more information for parents on the next slide how do I find out There it is. So on the web page, you'll see where parents can go. We put in a re-registration button on the hub that automatically go to that. Before we had it um under back to school, we want them to find it as easy as possible. Um and then there's also the transportation on the
035hub as well that has information on that opt-in process that I just went over that five-step process. So we think it's going to go well. have haven't heard a lot um about this in the last couple weeks, but as we get as we move forward again um with the transition, I'm sure we'll hear a few things >> and we're going to be pushing information again, just to reiterate, we're pushing information home to the the parents and we'll have our principles do that on their weekly newsletter because that re-registration is so very valuable. We we'll hit social media, the web page, parent uh parent newsletters. We'll continually push it out um any any any ways possible and and I know from my experience re-registration um is is a process to get people motivated to do that.
036So hopefully this will help for those in K through eight. >> Thank you. Is there any questions? Thank you. Next up, >> good evening. >> Tonight I have just a real brief um update for you on two topics. Um the first one is an update on our district's technology deploy deployment plan. So we got four sort of it's like um count or clockwise here. So, for those of you, you likely remember, we all remember the CO 19 um pandemic for for good and for bad. Um but if you remember, one of the things that as a district, we really vowed to try to come out stronger um as much as possible. And so, one of the things that happened during COVID was um us transitioning to a onetoone technology um deployment. Previously we were not
037one to one as a district and so that was something that happened kind of as a result of um of that. Six years later um we're at a place where we um are sort of rethinking um and reimagining what our deployment model could and or should um look like. I think that um you know in consultation with our our building principles with um teachers it's become clear that um there is a real fine an opportunity for us to um to help balance help students balance screen time um to ensure that technology is being leveraged in um at least for us and as educational purposes for educational purposes. And so we've made an intentional decision to shift our deployment model um away from 1:1 um primarily for next year. And so if you look at the
038slide in the top right for next year, we've already made the shift for kindergarten. kindergarten students are already um operating on a cart model where they have access to Chromebooks that are on a cart that are um in their classroom and available for them to use when um you know when the educational need um is there. We're transitioning all um all of our students in grades K through two for next year to that cart model. Um again, it's every student will still have access to technology. we're not um taking that away, but they just won't be bringing their device back and forth from school to home. And so um and then in grades 3 through 12 will remain for next year um a onetoone model. We're anticipating that the following year, all of our elementary
039grades K through five would be on a cart model. You'll see like a little asterisk there for sixth grade. um there is some work for us to to determine what we want our sixth grade model to look like. Um and then in grades 7 through 12 um one there are of course some cost savings that come with this but I think it's important to note that was not really the driving um factor. I think finances provides an opportunity for us to be rethinking and reimagining lots of things but that was not really the driving force in us like making this decision. I think it really comes um as we continue to evaluate and re-evaluate the um the use of instructional time, the effectiveness of the tools that students uh that we provide for students and
040we want to still provide it. Technology is still very important. The access to instructional technology is still very important. Um but this allows us to really um be able to increase the the longevity of our devices. Um Larry and his team are um looking at carts that are like smart charging carts. So they provide um tech or they provide like the power to um the battery to the in a balanced kind of way. So you're not like overusing the battery. You're able to increase the life the life of the battery. Obviously not having the wear and tear going back and forth and back and forth. We believe that we can increase the um the life that we can get out of a device as well. But it really also allows us um to to really
041spend time with our teachers um our instructional leaders to help continue to make really smart decisions about um the the tools that we want our students leveraging when they're here with us um during the day. From a cost savings perspective, as I said, there there are cost savings that we're anticipating um for next year. We anticipate around um half a million dollars around a half a million dollars the year after that. And in total, if we were to like play this out over the course of like an 8-year um time frame, we anticipate around a $3 million savings. Um and again, that primarily comes from increasing the life of the device. Right now, we're on a 4-year cycle. So, after four years, a student receives a new device. um Chromebooks have really improved over the
042years and um and we believe that with proper care and maintenance we can we can really um increase what we're able to to get from that. Um so that's sort of the update on um what we're anticipating um putting into place for next year. I want if if there are questions I'm happy to answer those. >> So I'm just going to use this as an example. um K through two the cart model. Does each kindergarten teacher have a cart in their room? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Yeah. So this and and kindergarten we are already operating from that standpoint right now. That's in place for this year. Um and and the plan is that you know for next year we're it there still is a one one device ratio, one device to one student. um
043they would just be deployed out of carts instead of the student having it all day and then at night at home >> packing it back and forth. I think this is a great idea. I'm excited that I think we we've moved ahead because there's so many studies now that talk about the screen time and the kids and and really how how kind of damaging it is for the child's back to pack that back and forth. it's super heavy and then they have to make sure that it's charged or mom and dad have to make sure it's charged before they get it to school and then then getting it to school and then the responsibility of a first or second grader to make sure that it's maintained and well taken care of is it's a lot
044to ask I think for the parents to do it and I think this is a great idea I think how how is it going with the teachers how are they handling this do they think this is a good idea this is driven by them >> well I mean in we've not like served surveyed all of our staff. So that would be disingenuous to say that we have um but I think that um our principles I mean to be honest they're in conversation with them they like clapped and like cheered. I mean, they I think um understand the benefits that technology can bring us, especially for our younger students, but also recognize that especially in grades K2, there's so much to be done away from a device um that really engages students in um really meaningful
045learning opportunities that um that that we're just trying to strike a balance and while also being mindful of district resources and continuing to find ways that we can um you you know, enhance and stretch um our community's resources. >> I think it's awesome. I love the idea. >> Any other questions about this? And I will I will say, you know, part of what why we're wanting to talk about this now is um so that families can can know that this is coming. So, if for some reason, you know, they're counting on a second grader bringing a device home, um that they, you know, would understand that next year in grades K1 and two, um they they won't be. So, that there's plenty of time for them to sort of transition to this as well. >>
046So, will Larry's team be the ones that will go and check these carts to make sure that they the Chromebooks are in working condition and all that stuff? Like, will they check those? >> I think I can answer. So, there will be a whole plan. Um, we wanted to share this with you, but there'll be a plan for collecting devices for students who are now not going to be taking them home, having those checked and, you know, refurbished and freshened up and whatever all the technical terms are for for doing all of that. Then there Larry and his team have really built out a plan where over over the years um so for example graduating seniors their devices would be brought down to the elementary school to be the devices that would go into a
047first grade cart for example and so there would be like a and I'm probably not saying that right but something you know along those lines they would then be put in carts and then students who currently have theirs that's a onetoone device that will have it next year they would continue with that same device. But again, the next year after that, as seniors graduate, then that comes back down to the elementary and so on and so forth. And so there's a very well articulated um plan that his team has has worked through. And so we'll we'll communicate all of those timelines and information about collection and so on and so forth with um with buildings soon. >> So you're like recycling Chromebooks. >> Yeah. And as I said, right now we're operating on a 4-year
048life cycle um where we are intending to to increase the um the usability the usable life of devices beyond four years. And so that's also what allows us to um to sort of um have these cost savings associated with this plan is by increasing how long we're able to use a device. It then we don't have to buy devices as frequently. Um, and and there are some, you know, Larry has had to increase potential repairs to his budget and those sorts of things, recognizing that as something gets older, you know, it's just more prone to perhaps um have issues. And so, he's had to sort of build some contingency plans in place for that as well. >> Are we just are we are we using like the next year to give it time to like
049get the information out and to kind of build this into the system? Yeah, I mean this is all like what we're anticipating. I can tell you the 26 27 plan is what we're like going with. We are moving to a cart model for grades K2 maintaining one one for the other grades. With anything we will evaluate how that goes. We'll um you know sort of look at the pros and cons of everything. this is what we're anticipating um being the case, but I'm also not going to, you know, pretend like if there are some snafoos or some unanticipated um you know, consequences of those decisions or if other things like sort of come to light that we should be considering, of course, we would consider those. And like I said, you know, the sixth grade
050asterisk, for example, and part of what I'm going to talk about next is middle school. That's a that's a decision that we need lots of input on what makes sense for sixth grade. Um and so I'm not gonna sit here and pretend like some decision has been made that we know exactly like what's happening. Um and you know and I might say like fifth grade um maybe we need to like reimagine and reevaluate that right now. This is kind of what we've Larry has sort of built a plan around um and and we'll just kind of adjust as we as we move forward. Sounds great. >> Okay, any other questions about that? >> All right, next slide. So, um, a lot of a lot of things here in a slide. Um, this a little bit
051is the left-hand side of this is a little bit of like a walk down memory lane. As we all know, last May we had a bond levy on the ballot. And while that was a bond levy about building buildings specifically at the middle school, it was also about um really addressing the unique needs of of intermediate and middle-aged students. and knowing that the needs of fifth and sixth graders are unique and uniquely different than the needs of seventh and eighth graders, which are uniquely different than the needs of elementary age students and high school students. And so a large part of what that aimed to address was by building a facility that was more uniquely designed for the needs of those students that um that that would be sort of an engine to help us
052um kind of reimagine and re-evaluate what um the kinds of educational experiences that we could provide to our intermediate and middle-aged students. We obviously know how that turned out. Um and so right now, you know, we're we're not going with um a construction plan. However, even though that is true, we cannot um allow the lack of new facilities to stand in our way of still working to address the real challenges that we still have around um really continuing to um design experiences and um and meet the the unique needs of our intermediate and middle-aged students. And so we've sort of made a few decisions um as a district and you notice on the board agenda tonight that um we have transferred um Kevin Jones his position and we've really um tapped him to become the
053principal of our sixth grade. Um Jake, he's still here. Jake Holgrren um will remain our West Claremont Middle School seventh and eighth grade principal. And um and then we have, you know, the rest of the administrative team. Um Jessica West serving as our associate principal for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. And then having um a sixth grade assistant principal, a seventh grade assistant principal, and an eighth grade assistant principal. And you know what we know to be true, and I will just share from my own personal experience. Right now, two of my boys are in seventh and ninth grade, but just last year they were in sixth grade and eighth grade. And I can share with you from firsthand experience that they are their needs were very different from one another. Um they're kind of
054similar in a few ways but mostly very different. And um so when I think about having um you know the same levels of expectations for them, the same kind of support that I would need to provide them, coaching supports, expectations, all of those things. As a parent, I had to kind of handle them each um a bit differently. And the same thing is true for us as an entire educational system. And we recognize that something still isn't um exactly quite as we'd like for it to be when we think about the transition from our students in fifth grade to sixth grade and that even then the transition from sixth to 7th and so on. And so we're really committed to continuing to um wrap our arms around um around our students and our staff. And
055I will say again not um just from p personal experience but as a middle level teacher myself um students they are um they're very challenging. They're very um it's it's it's very it is the best um and but it is really hard and our middle school um teachers and students they they are doing like work miracles um every day and we need as a district our success is going to really rise and fall by the success of our middle school. and we've been um over the years working to provide some um you know varying degrees and different ways to approach support. Um and so we're not trying to like and and we've learned some from some things that have gone well in the past and some things that maybe didn't quite go as planned. And
056so we're really um excited about the opportunity to to allow our sixth grade to have kind of a dedicated administrative team that really operates as part of a broader team. This has to be um an entire school-based approach. We're not looking to create like islands unto themselves, but we recognize that we've got to really look at like the instructional the instructional and academic structure, not just for sixth grade, but for sixth, seventh, and eighth grade. How do we within that school and within those three grades be mindful of the unique needs of sixth graders, seventh, and eighth graders? How together as one team can we work alongside of our curriculum leaders and um our interdisciplinary teams and our administrative team to really continue to examine like what what is um going to be what the
057h how do we continue to provide students with the highest quality um instructional the developmental needs? They're they're unique and different. And so how do we continue to address those? How do we um continue to build student independence and responsibilities across the elementaryaries from elementary to sixth grade and from sixth to seventh and eighth grade? What does kind of that gradual release of responsibility? What should it look like? Um, one of the things that I think we're going to need to really look at is like fifth grade. Are are there some things that we need to be thinking about differently um, from a fifth grade perspective to really continue to support students being ready to be a bit more independent and a bit more responsible when they come to sixth grade? And so how can
058Kevin and his team work alongside of our elementary principles and their teams to really um think about you know we don't want to postpone like some big transition to just now happen from sixth to 7th how can we um intentionally think about that transition uh across our grade levels and then organizational structure and transition like I said we've made some decisions around organizational structure by putting a dedicated principal assistant principal etc. But um beyond that like what might be some things that um that we might want to consider and explore and with all of this there is not like some predetermined plan that already exists. This really the only thing that we have predetermined is that we need to continue to provide the highest quality and the highest levels of support to our middle school
059team um to our teachers so that they can provide the the very best experiences for our students. and we, you know, made a decision to to um to reallocate um a position at the district level to the need like at the building and um and Kevin is like uniquely positioned with both elementary and secondary experience um to really be the person who can help um lead that work. So, we're super excited about that. Um and just grateful um for our our sixth, seventh, and eighth grade teachers who uh keep at it. I will say there like are no schedule changes. No, we're not like changing anything like big like that. They've been through a lot of change in a short period of time. So none of those things are um happening for next year. Um,
060but we we know that um, like I said, the success of our district really um, in many ways comes um, happens there and and we want to continue to um, do all we can to to support that their great work. Any questions about that? >> Anybody have any questions? I do want to just reiterate what Ellie has been saying because this has been thoughtful and purposeful and a couple of things is, you know, um we're not replacing Kevin at the district office. In fact, his his what he'll what he has been doing will be divided up amongst the staff that's already there. So, it's but it's so important to us that we we bring that support at the middle school that we're all taking on more so that we're able to provide that support closer
061to the kids. And I think um Ellie kind of talked about too is the district rises and falls with how our middle school functions and it's important that our staff are part of this process and not feel like it's something done onto them but something that they're part of. So, I know as she works through this with our staff on what does that look like? And although it the focus looks to be at six, that's where we're starting, but but as she as she alluded to is that seventh and eighth grade focus is just as important because of the kids from a physiological, biological, and chemical ch are changing more rapidly in those three years than they do at any other block in their learning. And um so being purposeful in the things that we
062do and the the way we provide it, I think that's how we're going to make a difference. Our middle school staff work tirelessly. They're there before the sun comes up. Really before the sun, >> literally. >> And and many are there when the sun's going down and they they continue to just every day show up with this with this physiological development of this pre-teen body. and their whole goal is to help those kids be successful. So, I can't say enough good things about how hard our staff work. And so, we're hoping to find ways that that work is is helps them be more purposeful in what they're doing. >> So, obviously, when I'm sitting up in this position, I'm always careful to not recognize one group over another because at the end of the day,
063I appreciate all of our staff in our district. Our staff is what keeps us moving in the right direction, and I appreciate all of them. However, since we are emphasizing the the middle school, um you know, I I recognize the fact and and I was sad that that our levy did not pass at the last time and I recognize the fact that that we've taken and put in our our middle school and in a basically combined two buildings. It was the old Amelia High School and the middle school and we've combined the two and we're trying to to do a lot of band-aids to it to keep it going. And so I recognize that from the staff and I recognize that they still show up as he's saying every day and they're still putting their
064best foot forward. And so for for that, for whatever it's worth, I absolutely appreciate that. It doesn't go unrecognized. I mean, up here, I know I see it. Talking to my other colleagues here, I mean, I know that we see it. We we have a great staff. Um, some of them are returning um as far as administration. And so, like I said, I I I appreciate our entire staff in our district. again, it's you guys keep us focused on our on our endgame and so I appreciate that. But however, I do just want to say that the middle school I do I do understand that that you know it is an older building and two buildings combined and so we do know that and I again I still appreciate everything that they do in our
065build and in our district to keep our kids um to get our kids where they need to be. >> So >> anything else? >> Okay, thank you. >> Thanks. >> Thank you. Um, let me see. Where are we at? Superintendent comments. >> All right, just a couple. Um, want to uh tell everyone that our CAC met last Thursday. Our CAC committee met last Thursday at the high school. Um, just as a reminder, the CSC's area focus was to research, analyze, and deepen its understanding of Ohio's public education finance system and how it directly impacts students, parents, staff, and the West Claremont community. I can say that every uh we've met four or five times now and that it is a group of dedicated parents and staff and community members there and they are fully engaged
066whether there great ideas. I'm excited. They're going to be coming to present to the board on May 18th and what their findings were and what they've been working on. So I'm excited for the board to hear about that. I'm excited for our community to hear about all the hard work they put into it. So, I thank the CAC members and we'll see them in about a month. Um, also just an email went out and a letter went out last Friday to our middle school and high school staff and parents. We are uh reconceptualizing the middle school high school athletic department so that we're unifying a 712 grade 7-12 athletic model. Um, we do this for a variety of reasons. One is that we're making adjustments to support our students and that using trying to use
067our resources more responsibly. Um, part of what that will do will allow a better connection between the middle school and the high school systems. Um, currently we have a middle school athletic director, a high school athletic director and a high school assistant athletic director. And um, I I I seem to to be two separate entities and I want them to be one for our kids and our programs. This creates a more consistent experience for our kids and there is a cost saving me major to that as well. So, James Collins will continue to be the district athletic director in grades 7 through 12 and be housed at the high school. Reed uh Hollinger will remain the district assistant athletic director grades 7 through 12 and primarily based at the middle school. And um we uh
068Larry Cox is the currently the middle school athletic director. We're going to wish him well on his next adventure. So, he'll be wrapping up uh his time with us at the end of this school year. And then finally, um for the board, I placed one of these in your sections for the community. Uh there's a magazine called Preparation Cincinnati out there and they showcased West Claremont as one of the two schools they showcased uh this spring. There's about 60 of our high school athletes showcased in here. So if you get an opportunity to get a copy of it, um it it really goes into um like full spread stories about our kids, interviews with our kids. They set for pictures. It's just one of the ways that um our athletes get get um recognized and
069just celebrated throughout the district. So if you get a chance to get your hands on a PNation Cincinnati um prep Prep Nation Cincinnati, it's about our April's picks the high schools you need to know. Want to share that. >> Thank you. C >> can I ask a question about the the way you guys are doing the athletic department? Again, athletics is not my wheelhouse. And so I make that very clear to people, but I'm assuming the way that you're doing this. Um the the two will still be working together. So if one needs some assistance, then this one's going to >> because I mean what I do know about athletics is that it's it's tiresome. It's it's long days, it's long nights, it's setting things up. And so, >> yeah, it's going to require us
070to make sure that in terms of logistics, yeah, we're we're top tier logistic uh information, but they both will still be working together to make sure that our middle school experience and high school experience are the best we can provide. And I think by this 712 model, we're going to get better at all the logistics that has to happen and occur and all the support that they're going to need in order to be able to have the extracurricular. >> Okay, so we're excited about that. Okay, that's it for me. >> Thank you. Next up, Mr. Romano. >> Okay. Um item 10.01 um is request for granting a tax and increment financing or a tiff uh for the Ber Hill Glenn Estate uh project. Um, we did receive notice from Union Township on this. And again,
071um, like majority most the tips that we put in front of you that are from Union Township, it does have a make whole agreement in it. That is although the property is exempt from taxation. uh those property owners do pay a pilot which is an acronym for payment in lie of taxes which is calculated um at the same rate of taxation um as if it was not taxexempt. There is then a compensation agreement that the school district and Union Township um execute. That compensation agreement is really makes us whole on those annual payments. Although the tiff is for 30 years, we do not have to wait to be made whole. We are made whole annually because those pilot payments are made. So, um it is consistent with those that are in the past. And the
072second thing that the resolution does, there's a 45day uh waiting period. We also wave that so that the township can go ahead and and start the process um of getting that um their contracts approved and their paperwork approved what they have to do. So the request is um the board the board approved the resolution granting of a tax increment financing exemption for Brier Hill Ven Estate TIF as uh presented or contracted by Union Township. >> Thank you Mr. Romano. You've heard the recommendation. Would someone like to make a motion? So move. >> Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Miss Abborn. Thank you. Is there any discussion? >> Roll call, please. Mr. Rudy, >> yes. >> Miss San? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Spencer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Patton? >> Yes. >>
073Mr. Chumley? >> Yes. >> Five. Yes. Thank you. Um, just on the treasur's comments, a couple things. one appreciate the fact uh that the administration leadership of the superintendent you know u um Mr. Gart Mr. Lada working on the transportation issue again that that although that has created some great savings that was really started almost a year over a year ago where we were trying two years ago where where we were trying to do something about that is and again it's not just as Preston stated a lot of things that we do aren't just because of the financial situation we're in because of the property tax legislation that occurred at the end of last year. there are normal reviews and things that we do so that we are um good stewards um of the community's
074dollars as we go through things. So you heard that with with again Mr. Gart, Mr. Lefano with transportation, Mr. Paris and Mr. trusting with the um ac academics and with the the um devices, you know, that they're looking at and it's all based off of data and information for us to do the right thing for the kids and for the district. So, compliments to them on doing that. Um, I was last week at our annual Ohio Association of School Business officials conference and after uh the myriad of property tax legislation that was approved last year, you would think that it was really a misery loves company session, but it was not. Um, it was basically a lot of my peers, uh, treasurers, business managers that were really coming together to find solutions because of the
075situation that we are in. Um we are not alone. Uh there were in over 400 school districts at the 20 mil floor. Uh there are uh I believe over half the districts that are on the state guarantee and that number is rising. One of the uh I don't want to say it's a flaw, but one of the nuances in the property tax laws that took place last year is that although it it effectively is reducing our property tax revenue, the valuations that are used in the state funding formula, the property tax valuations aren't being reduced. So on one hand where we're getting the reduction in the property tax and some would think that well that offset may be offset in the state funding formula. It is not. Um so again as I mentioned in the
076February forecast update where our state funding is relatively flat and is is expected to stay that way. Now, our funding from our local property tax takes a dip, a significant dip, then goes down and remains relatively flat. So, um we will be coming back um in May to give you some timelines of of what we want to do as as we as the superintendent gave the presentation in the past that there's a balancing act of expenses and revenues. How do we adjust our expenditures i.e. reducing them down. At the same time, how can we look for additional revenue sources so that we could balance out projected deficits into the future? So, we we'll come with a a very defined timeline in May um for that with you. Um, so lo and behold then when I
077got back on back into the office after be gone being gone most of last week, it was nice to have sitting on my desk the honor of states award uh with distinction for the West Claremont local school district. The award is presented for excellence in financial reporting related to our annual comprehensive financial report that was for the year ended 2025. Again, I think I mentioned this in the past. Credit for a lot of that goes to um the leadership of our assistant treasurer, Terry Johnson, and the team that she has. And then you don't get something like this without um the complimenting part on the superintendent side and staff that make sure that everything is done right. So, compliments to everybody uh for having again um the award from the auditor of state. That's it.
078>> Don't be so humble. there. >> It's a it, you know, it's it is great to be part of a team of people that are focused on doing the right thing. >> I appreciate that, Dan. >> Yep. Okay. Next up is board comments. Start with Mrs. Spencer. >> Well, thank everybody for coming out tonight. I know it's a school night and everybody's busy. Got I know I guess baseball started and lots of stuff going on. I know everybody's busy. Um, we appreciate the district leaders thinking ahead about the students and I really appreciate what Ellie was talking about kind of trying to ease back a little bit on the computers with the littleer kids because I think that it's it's a lot to ask and I think that it's thinking ahead and I think now
079there's more there's a lot more um studies going out about, you know, screen time with the little kids and that kind of thing. And I think it's a I think this is a great move towards a little bit more traditional maybe way of thinking for the younger kids and keeping them in line and everything. But and lots of times it's not really the the best not I wouldn't say best it's not really the the forward thinking of technology. Everybody wants to push technology but sometimes it's not always the best in certain stages of life of the kids development I don't think. But anyway but I appreciate Ellie and her team working really hard for that. it and I hope and thank you for coming out. >> I have uh found a big struggle with first
080graders in technology. They it took me the whole class period for them to log in. So I've given up. >> Yeah, >> they get better later, but it's crazy. >> I think it's a Yes, absolutely. I agree. >> And they're all coming up like I used to do to my mom and dad. Mr. Rick, Mr. They want they all want me at the same time. >> Yeah, >> Mr. Rudy jumped ahead. I wanted to add it to >> Are you done, Miss Spencer? >> Yes, I am done. >> Yeah. Thank you, Miss Samour. >> Um, I appreciate the uh re-registration process. I think that this will allow the parents to look ahead and think ahead about what they want to do and how they want to get their students enrolled and what bus they're going
081to be on. I think that's that's that's the key to uh having a successful school district. And I also like that the technology that we're looking forward and and thinking about what the students might need. Um I I really I really like this presentation that was given tonight. Ellie, you did a really good job. Josh and Randy, you really did a good job. So, thank you for all that you do. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. R. I want to congratulate the master teachers again and Mrs. Sears, thank you for all your hard work. It's been many years, but you've done it. >> Very much appreciated. >> And a shout out to Dr. Folultz for superintendent of the year from the nutrition >> school nutrition association selected me as the superintendent of the year for the
082state of Ohio. >> It's wonderful. Congratulations. >> It was a It was a surprise. >> Well deserved. >> Thank you. Thank you. You guys are just so humble. I would have >> I would have been sitting it right here for the world to see. >> Yeah, we know you would have like >> But thank you, Mr. >> I'll piggy back off that. I want to thank and congratulate our master seizures. I always love opening up our Well, we got spoiled with the kids opening up for a while now. Kind of dumb that we didn't have kids here today. Uh that was just as almost as good. Uh I know this time of the year is kind of grueling. I know my kids are going to state testing and all that stuff. This time of year
083people start dragging, but we're rounding third and heading for home. So I can't believe we're already that point in the year where summer's on the horizon. But hope everyone kind of keeps trucking and keeps at that pace because we're almost there. But yep. Um, okay. First thing I want to say is that our next board meeting is uh will be May 4th. May >> 4th um at 7 PM. It will actually be at the high school. So, Star Wars day. >> Yes. >> Don't dress as Yoda. Just just >> I'm glad Dr. Fitz got it. That's why I paused and he shuddled. So, my day has been made. >> Uh so, yes, May 4th, West Thermmont, that'll be our board meeting and it will be at the high school. So again, um to to show
084up there, I I guess you know, again, we sit up here and I again, as I said already previously, I appreciate our our staff. I appreciate what they do in our district. Um more importantly, I appreciate you two being able to work so well together and um trying to fix the mess that we're in because of no fault of our own. Um we were kind of thrusted into this this mess and we're trying to figure it out. And so, um, you know, with you two, I've seen in other districts sometimes the treasurer and the superintendent don't always work and don't always gel. Uh, and so for that, I appreciate that you two are able to do that and having to make some really tough decisions and you've already started to make those tough decisions by
085making some moves and just making some some restructuring in our district. And so that'll help as a whole, that'll help us down the road. And so I I definitely appreciate that. Um, so that's that's what I've got. So again, May 4th is our next board meeting at 7 p.m. at the high school. Um, so screens here at this point. Um, someone like to make a motion to We do not have a reason to go into executive session. Yeah. >> Second. >> Thank you. We would like to second it. >> Second. >> Miss Sandborn. Thank you. I'm going to assume no discussion. >> Roll call, please. >> Mr. Rudy? >> Yes. >> Miss Sambort? >> Yes. >> Mrs. Spencer? >> Yes. >> Mr. Patton? >> Yes. >> Mr. Chubley? >> Yes. >> Five. Yes. To ajourn.
086I love how you always look at me.