001Uh, good evening. Welcome to the September 8th West Claremont School Board meeting. Mr. Romano, please take role. Mr. Pat, present. Mr. Rudy, present. Miss, present. Mr. Spencer, present. action. So there is a need to go into executive session uh motion to ex go into executive session for the purpose of considering the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official. I'll make a motion that we move into executive session. Do I have a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Pat, yes. Mr. Rudy, yes. Miss, yes. We shall return. Uh, good evening. We are coming back out of executive session. Mr. Romano, please take role. Mr. Pat, present. Mr. President, Mr. President. Yes. Mr. President. Thank you. Uh, at this point, please join me in
002the pledge of allegiance. I aliance 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. Next up is the motion to adopt the agenda. Would someone like to make a motion? So moved. Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there a second? Sec. Miss Mr. Chumley. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Rudy. Yes. Mr. Ch. Yes. Miss. Yes. Mrs. Spencer. Yes. Mr. Yes. Next up, it looks like we have the West Claremont Experience Panel. President Patton and members of the board. At this time, we would like to have our West Claremont experience panel facilitators and panelists come forward. Great. These staff members volunteered their time during the last week of their summer break to help
003welcome and prepare our newest West Claremont staff members at new teacher orientation. The panel was a new addition to our new teacher agenda. On day one, we ended our day with the West Claremont Experience Panel featuring eight teachers who brought both new and seasoned perspectives to our newest hires to share their insights, advice, and encourage them to help clear to help create a clear picture of what it means to teach and be connected in the West Claremont school community. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive and we again wanted to thank the panelists and facilitators for giving their time to welcome and inspire our newest team members. So, we had two lead mentors who helped both spearhead and organize, Tara Hector and Kelly Taylor, who both had um previous commitments tonight. And then with us um
004tonight is Anna Dback. We have with us Angela Nicodemus. We have Kendra Hampton and Tara Moore. And then the others with us were Sophie Palmer, uh Nicole Bass, Isabelle Urggon, and Mariah Fannon. So, thank you again. And then we have a certificate for you. So we'll pass these out. Chop. While they're while they're passing that out, I just want to say that this was kind of uh organically birthed out of that trying to look at how how do we retain teachers? We can go out and get them, but how do we retain them? And so this group really took that to heart and started making those connections with them and helping them truly understand what what the West Claremont way is and what's like here and also started bridging those connections. [Applause] Thank you so
005much. Thank you all. Okay, next up is public speaking. Uh it says visitors who wish to address the board are asked to state their name, address, and school uh or organizations. Remarks must be addressed to the board and should be brief three minutes into the point. Speakers may offer such as as objective criticism or suggestions regarding the school operations or programs. The board will not hear uh personal complaints of any school personnel or against any persons connected with the school district unless those complaints have first been addressed through the individual department or administrations involved. Looks like we do have one uh Mr. Glisten. Good evening. Uh my name is Rich Glisten. I'm a candidate for West Claremont School Board. Um, I'm also the vice president in my second term for the West Claremont High School
006Athletic Boosters. And today I received a call from the athletic boosters president where he informed me that he received communication from quote higherups unquote within the district that I should no longer be a board member of the Athletic Boosters citing a conflict of interest. My position with the Athletic Boosters, an independent nonprofit organization, is not paid and is 100% volunteer. After consulting with the Ohio Ethics Commission, I firmly believe that since I am not an employee, rather a candidate for the school board, that there is no conflict of interest. Nearly my entire life has been in service to our country or our communities. I'm a Navy veteran, a retired firefighter for the city of Norwood, and a founder of a 501c3 nonprofit organization, the Norwood Firefighters Association, which gives back to the community children uh
007all across Cincinnati. I'm also the president of the Union Township Parks and Recreation Commission, a committee. Um, selflessly serving is nothing new to me. I'm going to step away from my official board duties with the athlet athletic boosters, but know that I do so under protest. Uh, it would be unfair to the student athletes or my fellow volunteers to deal with the fodder of my defiance to the district's attempt to silence my voice or reduce my visibility to the public. Thank you. Okay, moving on. Next is the consent agenda. The uh we'll start with I believe Josh. Thank you. Good evening. In front of you is the personnel agenda for September 8th, 2025. On this agenda today, we have the acceptance of resignations for two pair of professionals, one cafe worker. The agenda recommends the
008hiring of new personnel, including seven pair of professionals and one cafe worker. Approval is requested for multiple salary adjustments for our teaching staff. These new placements occur from our teachers continuing their education and adding masters master's degrees and other coursework. Also presented for approval are the proposed supplemental contracts for multiple positions for building leadership, wellness, athletic coaches, committee members, club directors, and other positions. The board has asked to consider the unpaid leave for multiple staff members. On this agenda, we have the resolution to terminate an employee. The agenda proposes the hiring of substitute personnel, including one pair of professional and one custodian. This agenda contains the approval of multiple school volunteers across the district and presented with their associated buildings. On this agenda, we have work beyond the contract for IEP meetings, beyond the workday,
009media center organization, Orton Gillingham training, sources of strength, leadership organization and leadership link crew leadership and organization and web events for new students. This concludes the review of the personnel agenda submission for your consideration. Thank you. Thank you, Josh. Next up is Randy. uh second reading for our uh 5136 personal communication devices. There's been no changes since we talked about this um at the last board meeting. Um based on the feedback, really no feedback from building principles. Everything has gone very well with this policy as well. So I'm asking you to vote on this tonight. This will be the second reading. We will put this into our policies. And just a reminder that uh we will be meeting this week and cabinet members will be meeting this week going through all the new policies from
010the August draft. Uh this is a part of it, but we want to jump on this because we we started the year with this. But we'll have the other policies going through cabinet this week. I meet with Nola next Monday and then we have our committee meeting um that Monday the 22nd uh prior to the board meeting. So there'll be a lot more policies that will be come forth uh in the next few weeks. Thank you, Randy. Next up is Ellie. Good evening. I guess it's this one. Good evening. This evening, I'm uh seeking your approval for four different overnight field trips. Um before I started, I just wanted to give a little bit of information about overnight field trips and how they differ from field trips that happen during the school day. Um all
011of these overnight field trips are considered extracurricular in nature and as such costs for those extracurricular field trips are um placed on the students and their families. there um are not cost incurred by our district um in support of these overnight field trips. Um that's different than field trips that happen during the school day. By law, um districts are not allowed to charge students for transportation for field trips that happen during the school day because those are considered part of the the educational experience. And as such, we wouldn't want to um place any additional costs on families for those. And so, um, the district does provide for the transportation for field trips that happen during the school day, but all of the field trips that we bring to you for approval are overnight field trips,
012and those are different where we those costs are incurred by students and their families. So, I just wanted to sort of make sure it's like the beginning of the year, and we're going to, you know, kind of be in the um approval mode for some overnight field trips. So I just wanted to to make sure that everybody understood that before beginning. So the first field trip request is for Campbellgard. This is for Kluff Pike. This is a trip that they've taken um you know many times over the years. And um the cost of that field trip for students is $1 and let me like double check here $116 um for each student to attend that overnight experience that's um offered in partnership with Cam Campbell which is affiliated with the YMCA um of Cincinnati. The
013second overnight field trip is um for one student and our HOSA advisor to attend the um Washington Leadership Academy. That um is really something that um is an honor for this student to to be able to attend this. she's um in a leadership role within HOSA and so this is for her to be able to attend that leadership academy um which again is a really um amazing experience that we have a student who's able to to attend that um HOSA is a course that we offer in partnership with the Great Oaks and so um Great Oaks and um HOSA cover the costs of this field trip for of this experience for the student so she and her family will not have any additional costs um in order for her to partic participate in that, which
014is um you know, really great. The third overnight field trip that I'm seeking your approval for is for West Claremont Middle School to attend their Washington DC field trip. Um this is a field trip that they will take later on in the spring. And um this particular field trip, the cost per student is $1,189 per student. um all of the arrangements for payment and all of those things, those are handled between the family and the the vendor um themselves. The district does not get in the middle of payment and you know reimbursement and all of those things. That's um all handled between the families and the company um itself. And then the last uh overnight field trip is for our West Claremont High School marching band and choir. they have the opportunity to perform at
015Walt Disney World and um and so the um cost for that field trip and again it somewhat depends on how many students end up signing up whether they have four students in a room. you know, if a student wants to have a room to him or herself, you know, all of those things are sort of um factors. But generally speaking, for, you know, four students per room, um if we were to have like the max number of students that they're they're anticipating um having, it would be around $1,700 per student, and that's inclusive of all meals, admissions to theme parks, um etc. So, um that that um those are the four field trips that I'm seeking your approval for. I don't know if you have any questions um about any of those before I have
016a seat. I I do have a question. So, I saw some of them are like uh Monday and Tuesday. So, when we approve these, they just don't those are like excused days, right? Yes. So, yeah. So it's students are not pen penalized for their participation in this and um and our they they work closely with um our teachers. You know, obviously there's learning that happens when they're not there, but um but teachers don't hold that against them and give them time to be able to make up those assignments. That's a great question. Thank you. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you so much. Okay. Um item 7.0 07 is request for the approval of minutes. That is for the meeting the regular meeting that was held on August 16th. Uh actually that was the board retreat
017that was held on August 16th. Item 7.08 is request for approval of minutes of the regular meeting um that was held on August 18th. Item 7.09 is the list of donations and so I don't lose my voice halfway through. If it's okay, I will just read the donor um as we go through this. Um there were 23 donations um that are listed. First is from West Claremont High School PTO, Donna Smith, Mount Washington Presbyterian Church, Church of the Good Samaritan, Big Red Appliance, Elizabeth McCulla, RJ Cinema, Hamilton County Anglers, Wamsville Tabasco PTO, Wamsville Church of Christ, Wendy's, Stewart, and apologize if I don't get the name correct there. Luganbull Lugan Bule Lugan Bu thank you Legion Post 72 Ankit and UIE Patel Kayle Shanebrook Sheila Rose the Red's Community Fund Black Bald Giving Fund the
018Ladies Golf League Merwin PTO and Teresa Deir. So, it is a um request to approve the motion uh to accept the donations as listed. Item 7.10 is a motion to approve the authorization of the superintendent treasur to negotiate and ex execute contracts as presented and listed. Um there are six of those um that are presented. Item 7.11 is the 2026 insurance rates. And a little bit of background here. Um our we are members of swish which is a 10 district um health insurance consortium. We are quai self-insured. Um that is that the premium is set based on anticipated claims that the district has. There is some tearing between the districts so that there's there's not great fluctuations. Um, prior to accepting the rates, we always do and it is a contractual obligation. We do have
019an insurance committee that is made up of three members of WCEA, three members of Hope and three administrators. Um, we've had two meetings. We we meet several times a year, but specifically two meetings on um these on the rate increase. The rate increase on the health insurance was 10.8%. part of those two meetings were looking at different options or opportunity to try and lower those health care costs um so that it's not high. Um the important part of that is there is a share between West Claremont as the employer and the individual employees. That is an 8416 split on that premium up to 10% on the increase. If it goes over 10% then it is split 5050. So in in this case because it went up 10.8% that split is again 8416 on the first
02010% and then 50/50 on the 08% as we go forward. Um so the the request is um to approve establishing the insurance premium rates for health, drug, dental and vision effective January 1. Um the health insurance on both the PO and the highly deductible is 10.8%. The MetLife dental we we had a very good three-year run where Metife um wholly insured. Um so we were that was a traditional insurance. It was not self-insured. Um we did uh have an advantage during the that time period where the premiums were were below um our claims. Um in uh in this year the rates do go up. There is an allowance for it to go up I believe 7% which it is going up. That also shared um with the employees. Um and then the board is also
021requesting or we're requesting the board to approve the life insurance premiums. Those are paid wholly by the board. And then there is a voluntary vision um that is paid by the uh individual employee. So item 7.11 is request to approve establishing the insurance premium rates for health drug dental and vision effective Jan January 1st 2026 as presented. And again, our computer or excuse me, our insurance consortium is swish. Any questions on on that area. Okay. Item 7.12 is approval of purpose and budget statements for 2526 as listed. And again, um these these we have a big bulk of these that started come in last June. And then we make sure that all the uh purpose and budget states or really the the school building funds have these the important part of The board approving these
022is not just for the budget, but as that purpose statement is established by the clubs and organizations and the other funds from different fundraising that is raised, um the board is also approving that those expenses do meet a public purpose. So, it's kind of a two-prong thing that these statements are being approved. So, item 7.12 is request for approval of purpose and budget statements um as listed for the 2526 school year. So the consent agenda contains items 7.01 through 7.12 as presented. Thank you, Mr. Romano. You've heard the recommendation. Would someone like to make a motion? Some move. Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there a second? Second. Sandborn. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Rudy? Yes. Mrs. Spencer? Yes. Mr. Patton? Yes. Mr. Chumley? Yes. Miss Samborn? Yes. Five? Yes. Thank
023you. Okay. Um I have for your approval the memor memorandum of understanding for the revised appendix C2 and D1 of the hope CBA as presented. Um thisou will reflect changes correcting a clerical error on the hourly rate for our middle and high school custodians for 2526. Our elementary school custodians had received an agreed upon increase in hourly pay for 25 26, but the high school I'm sorry, the high school custodian salary schedule did not reflect or receive the same increase. This OU will correct that mistake. Thank you, Josh. You've heard the recommendation. Would someone like to make a motion? Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there a second? Second, Miss Ambour. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Thank you. Roll call, please. Mr. Rudy, yes. Mr. Samborn, yes. Mrs. Spencer. Yes. Mr. Patton. Yes. Mr. Chumley.
024Yes. Five. Yes. Thank you. Next up is Becky. I just have to hold this. Okay. So, tonight we want to celebrate West Claremont High School for being recognized as one of the best high schools by US News and World Report. So if Crystal and her team could come up. I see a couple of you. Okay. So this is the second year in a row that the high school has earned this designation. The ranking places West Claremont High School in the top 40% of high schools in the country out of nearly 18,000 schools. Schools are ranked on several factors including student performance on state required tests, graduation rates, and how well they prepare students for college. So we have this plaque. So we want to present this. [Applause] Congratulations. Congratulations. [Music] I know. I kept looking.
025I'm like, she looks very Becky's taking the picture. We do have some amazing high school teachers in the audience today. We just like to take a moment and say congratulations for all the hard work that you do as well. Yes. [Applause] So we should also recognize work of our past people there such as Yeah. Great pot of bomb laps there. Great pot of bomb and uh Mr. Gard they laid foundations. Not that that Kristen is not doing a great job, but they handed her a a good situation. So if I can piggyback with that, um, you know, obviously this this kind of like takes a village and so I think everyone did a great job and this is another prime example too that we as the board our unwavering commitment to invest in students success
026is the cornerstone for this achievement. Our approach involves strategic investment and attracting and ret retaining top tier staff and providing a diverse range of learning opportunities both in the classroom within and within the community. This comprehensive strategy ensures that our students will gain valuable and successful learning experiences and all thanks to our board is the clear recognition of the value and the methods of this delivery. So I think we all have a lot to celebrate. So thank you. Um moving on is now superintendent's comments. I just wanted to say um we've been I think uh we've completed Becky six of the principal pride in district drive. So last year, last couple years, Natasha had done articulation and I I flipped it up a bit because the principles are amazing at coming and telling me all
027the great work their staff do and or or put it in the email, but I wanted to be in the room. I wanted to be see them. I wanted to as we celebrate them, I want to be able to look at them and say great job and ask questions. So we started this principal pride and district drive. And so I go to all the buildings multiple times throughout the year, listen to all the great things that's going on and having the principles brag about their staff. And then I get to I get to high five them and brag about them as well up here. And then I give the board updates. So we've hit six and nine. I think that it's gone very well and I I feel like we have started we started off
028on a really sound good foot this year. So I'm excited about that. Also, uh being new in this role, I've been visiting a lot of our community partners. So Great Oaks, um West Foundation, I had a a great conversation with the deputy Church of Christ pastor Kevin Stewart and uh Landmark Church pastor Brandon Little. They came to visit me as well. The Jeff Wiler girls and boy girls and boy boys and girls club right down the road on my coast is run by a young I say young man, he's a young man named Lucas Krueger. Um full of life, full of just he cares about these kids. And I I was impressed with what the facilities they had. I was impressed with his passion for our students and and you I walked away going, you
029know, they're our kids. He sees our kids and they care about kids. uh Lucas, it was great meeting him for the first time and then um so I've I've been out there meeting people and uh going to programs and just making sure that I can build those relationship. So just want to give you an update. Thank you. Looks like Mr. Romano. All right. Um just three things. Uh at the September 22nd board meeting, which is the next board meeting, um we will have the annual appropriation measure. Uh, I don't know what to call it because it's not the five-year forecast anymore. There's a replacement. It's a year plus three years. So whether it's a three-year forecast or four year, we don't know yet. But that document will be presented um on the 22nd. We have
030two committee meetings on the 17th. Uh one is the records commission meeting and the second one is the finance committee. So that would be next week before the 22nd board meeting. fit. Thank you. Next up, it looks like is board comments. I'll start with Mrs. Spencer. Well, I'm excited to hear about the award and I know it doesn't go out. Everybody kind of knows that yes, the teacher and the staff, but also the parents are all everyone should rally in this because it's a like you said, it's a village. It takes a village. I'm proud of everybody that comes to the meetings and puts the extra time in and and the parents that stay up nights helping with the homework and moving them forward. But yeah, I think it's a great I I think it's
031great for the community and I think it this will all help us keep our momentum moving forward. But I think everybody deserves a pat on the back for that. Everybody all the way around. That's all. Thank you, Miss Amble. On uh August the 29th, I went to the Hamilton County Educational Service Center. They hosted the Greater Cincinnati Business Advisory Council. The meeting went well. I would say there was about 200 businesses, corporations, superintendents, and board members there. West Claremont had great representation. Dr. Tracy Ray was there. Randy Gart, Ellie Preston, and me. Um, Donna Labor was is president of the BAC and Mark Williams is vice president of the BAC and they spoke about what great things that they are doing through this BAC organization. Um, we had three breakout committees. Then you could choose
032your choice. The first one was building partnerships. The second one was develop personal skills for the future. Uh, Dr. Ray, Miss Preston and I are on that committee. The third committee is corporate uh coordinate uh experiences. There were several speakers with several different topics. Susan presented from the ex uh executive director of advanced manufacturing. She states that there is a shortage in the manufacturing industry. Emily Dolinger from Ross Community Schools as the director of curriculum and instruction. She talked about getting out of the four walls of the school district, out of the classroom and outside doing things and experiencing uh other opportunities. There are other people that were recognized that we're sitting in the audience. They also I also had a a conversation with our former superintendent Natasha Adams and she really likes what she's
033doing now. She's very happy. She said she's still trying to learn her way around the building because it's so big. I know that for a fact because I went into the employee entrance. I was in the wrong side. I got up to the door and a little thing says, "Oh," and I like, "Oh, I think I'm on the wrong side." And the guy behind me goes, "Oh, ma'am, let me let you in." Um, the next meeting is on November the 14th, 2025 at UC Claremont from 8:30 to 11, no, 10:30, uh, with light breakfast. So all in all was really well attended and I had a wonderful time and I want to learn as much as I can to bring back to the school district. Thanks. Thank you. Samour Mr. Chamber. Yeah. Uh I will
034piggy back off of everyone else. I love hearing these success stories and um how everyone's working together well and bringing their expertise to the table and it just seems like we're taking bigger and bigger steps every year and I think that's awesome. Um, wish our Bengals could look the same, but we got a win yesterday, so they Mr. Rudy, I'm going to put somebody on in the forefront here. I was uh going through Facebook the other day as usual because I'm a big Facebooker, not for drama, but to keep up with everybody. And lo and behold, there was Mr. Josh Young having lunch with some of his littles and there were some really positive comments. Very proud of you, Josh. And it is a wonderful thing that you're doing. You could just tell those kids
035who respect and admire you by the way they were looking. So, it's a personal favorite of mine. I used to do that, too. Go out and just randomly sit and eat and talk to them. they see it in a different way. So, that was a great representation of of our people. So, thank you. Thank you, Mr. Rudy. I'll try to keep mine brief. I've only got 20 pages to read, so if you'll just be patient. No, I'm just kidding. You're trying to outshine me. That's um again, I do want to uh say how much I appreciate the community. I appreciate all of the work that the staff does. uh these types of rewards and the momentum awards that we've received and just all of the awards that the district has received. This would not be
036possible if it wasn't for you guys uh for the community, for the staff, and we really do appreciate what you guys do for our district. Um Mr. Romano has already emphasized the the next meetings. We do have a uh finance committee meeting that is on the 17th at 4, a records committee meeting at 5, and then our next board meeting will be here at the district office, and that will be September 22nd at 7 p.m. So again, I do appreciate everyone coming. Um, it looks like at this point we do not have a reason to go into executive session. So would someone like to make a motion to adjurnn? So moved. Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there a second? Second, Mr. Chumley. Thank you. I'm assuming no discussion. Roll call, please. Mr. Rudy? Yes. Mr.
037Chumley? Yes. Miss San? Yes. Mrs. Spencer? Yes. Mr. Patton? Yes. Five? Yes.