001Uh, good evening. Welcome to the August 18th, 2025 West Claremont School Board meeting. Mr. Romano, please take a role. Mr. Patton, present. Mr. Rudy, present. Mr. Chumley, present. Miss Samborg, present. Mrs. Spencer, present. All present. Thank you. Uh, please join me for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. First up, it looks like the motion to adopt the agenda. Would someone like to make a motion? 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. Mr. Chumley? Yes. Five. Yes. Thank you. Is it Josh? Yeah.
002Good evening, Board of Education. I'd like to welcome West Claremont High School senior David Lack to the front of the room. Do you recognize? As a junior, David achieved an extraordinary milestone this past June, earning the title of state runnerup in the high jump. After claiming the Eastern Cincinnati Conference Championship, David advanced to the Ohio High School Athletic Association state track meet in Columbus. Competing against the very best in the in Ohio, he soared to a personal best of 6'9 in, securing his place on the podium. Please join me in congratulating David on this extraordinary achievement. How tall are you? That's pretty high. He's the drug. I forgot. Next up looks like a presentation from Becky. There we go. I'm just here to show some highlights from our back to school celebrations we've had over
003the past couple of weeks. Uh first, we had police night out. We were at all three Betavia, Pierce, and Union Townships. And despite three nights of rain, we were able to connect with hundreds of uh community members. Um, this was especially important this year because we had a new superintendent and three new principles who are able to connect with countless families. So, see if I got this. Uh, oh. All right. Okay. Doing it on there. Oh, it is. There's a few more slides. I promise. This is a great presentation. Like my remote at home. Yeah. Did you turn the remote on? Oh, no. Okay. But I It's still not working. No, that's not it. It's not working from here either. So, we'll just we'll do it this way. Technology is great when it works. So
004funny. It's not even when I do this presentation. At this point, I usually throw remote control to teach. Try it again. Which way do I There we go. Now I've gone too far. There we go. Okay, we also wanted to give a little shout out to our uh new teachers. This was from the new teacher orientation. This year we have 55 new teachers, counselors, and school psychologists who join the district this year. So, we want to give them a welcome to the team. Let's see here. Okay, just just pretend to not hit it. Oh. Oh, we also had the back to school bash on August 2nd. Uh the whole learner network hosted this. Um, and it was to help families with need. We ended up helping 235 students with things like haircuts, school supplies, clothes,
005shoes, being reregistered. Oh, you went too fast. The other one there. The other way. Go back the other way. Right there. Yep. There. Okay. So, we just want to thank all of our volunteers and our community partners for helping with that big event. Okay. Here we go. Now, this is the um first day back to school. These are just some photos we took at all the elementary schools in the area. Um, today was the first day that students all students were back in, but this has just been kind of the past couple of days. And finally, this was um something that's really cool. This is the second year that I've experienced this, but this is uh at the middle school and it's called web, which stands for where everyone belongs. And this is just where
006um eighth graders who are in this web program, they get to welcome the sixth graders to middle school. Um it's a great it's a really great event. And these are just some pictures from it. just so next up is public speaking. At each meeting, the board president will recognize any visitors who wish to be heard. They are asked to which they did. Thank you. Visitors who wish to address the board are asked to state their name, address, and a school or organization. Remarks must be addressed to the board and should be brief, three minutes, and to the point. Speakers may offer such things as objective criticism, suggestions regarding school operations or programs. The board will not hear personal complaints of school personnel or against any persons connected with the school district unless those complaints have
007first been addressed through the individuals, departments, or administration involved. We do have one and I'm going to apologize. I'm gonna mispronounce the name. Um, who's my one speaker? Yeah, I'm sorry. I'm gonna mispronounce it and I don't even want to to butcher it. So, yes. Thank you. Hi, my name is Desire Burton Shaw. I am TJ's mom, but very proud to be here and very thankful for everything you guys have done. I know we love West Claremont High School. Mr. Miller has been wonderful and the treasures have been wonderful. We thank you. Thank you so much, ma'am. Sorry. Thank you. Again, congratulations and thank you guys so much. Next up is our consent agenda. Moving on is the human resource personnel. It looks like that'll be Josh. Good evening. In front of you is the
008personnel agenda for August 18th, 2025. On the agenda today, we have the resignation of one teacher, five pair of professionals. This agenda also includes the proposed hiring of one teacher, five pair of professionals, and two part-time pair of professionals. On the agenda, we have the proposal to suspend the contract for one teacher pending a lensure. On this agenda, we have the proposed approval of extended days for one teacher. We also have multiple salary adjustments for one payroll director and salary adjustments for multiple teachers. These new placements occur for our teachers continuing their education and adding master's degrees and other course course work over the summer. On this agenda, we have the proposed approval of supplemental contracts for athletic support staff, multiple arts directors, multiple coaches, substitute custodian, per professional, and teacher. We also have the
009approval for multiple school volunteers across the district. On this agenda, we have the following FTEE adjustments. The reduction of one assistant superintendent, one dean, two teachers, and the addition of one director, one help desk supervisor, and one teacher. These adjustments are made um and they reflect kind of the the different things that have happened over the course of the last month. Um unfortunately, Dr. Folultz would not be able to go back to his old position. So, we've kind of trapped him here. If that's if that goes through on this agenda, we have the daily rate for teachers on pending lensure. Um, finally in the work beyond the contract section, um, are the proposed approval for payments for multiple teachers that attend our new teacher orientation, multiple teachers that attended the CPI training over the summer,
010one teacher that will serve as our gifted coordinator, one teacher that will serve as our data infrastructure system support, one teacher that will serve as the learning management support, one teacher that attended the IP during the summer months, and multiple teachers that served as cooperating teachers or will serve as cooperating teachers for our local universities. ities. Um, personally, this is exciting. 13 total. That means we got our new hires in the pipeline. So, that's great. Um, this concludes the review of our personnel agenda submission for your consideration. Thank you. Um, I have a question about the work behind the contract. That 450, is that spread out for the three days that they come or is that 450 each day? Um, I would need to get clarification on that to make sure it's uh I answer
011appropriately. Um, but I would be happy to do that. Okay. Thank you. 150. Yes, it's a total 15 each day. 150 a day. Oh, gotcha. Okay, I'm just clarifying it. Thank you. Thank you. Next up is Randy. I'm back. OFCC again. So, last month or last meeting, we gave the information about um the acceptance that we had in July meeting from the uh OFCC. Uh with that, that was information only tonight. We're asking the board to authorize this uh in the resolution to accept the OFCC funding that they granted us from our previous master facility plan. Just a reminder, we can make adjustments to that. We can segment that off into a uh smaller scope of project down the road, but we would want to accept the funding. Um, again, that's about a 20% regardless
012of what project that we do. And again, that's the OFCC math if you remember that. They only give us certain number per their enrollment projections, which didn't include all of our students, but we would ask you to accept this and is a resolution tonight. So, that still keeps us in line to where still keeps us in line. Um, as as we move forward, we know that we're we're not going to be in 25, but if the board were to decide to do something in 26, you have that option. Okay. Thank you. Item 7.03 is request for approval of the minutes. Those were the minutes for the meeting held on August 4th, 2025. Item 7.04 is the list of donations. The recommendation is to approve those donations as presented. Uh Union Township Firefighters Union donated $3,000
013to the back to school bash and Christmas event. Makino donated $1,500 to the whole child assistance fund. East Fork Region Kowanas donated $250 to the whole child assistance fund. Dan and Betty Cookie donated $50 to Ameilia Student Lunch Charges uh for a book by Molly Lynn Dutini. Joan Sigman donated $20 to Ameilia student lunch charges for a book by Molly Lynn Doutini. Bonnie Nesbet donated $50 to Ameilia student lunch uh charges for the same book. And Molly Dutini donated $50 to Amelia Elementary student lunch charges. Molly Dutini don also donated crayons, markers, colored pencils to Amelia for classroom supplies. Raising Canes donated a gift basket for West Claremont Middle School Webb program. A and a safety donated eight street signs for limb to with Wamsville Tobasco Elementary. There was an anonymous donation uh for three
014large bags of school supplies to Holly Hill Elementary for students in need and Chick-fil-A donated 125 chicken sandwiches and condiments to West Claremont Middle School for Web Leaders Training. It's recommended that the board approve those donations as as read. Um item 7.05 is a request to approve the authorization for the superintendent and treasur to negotiate and execute contracts as presented. Those are the list of contracts um that are provided. Again, as noted towards the beginning of the year, June for uh FY26 July and August there's there's uh kind of a higher volume of contracts done than than most of the other months within the year. Um item 7.06 is the request um and the recommendation to approve the financial statements, the bill's paid list and investments for July 2025 as presented. Um the cash position
015records, annual spending plan, and other reports that are listed below. The consent agenda is item 7.01 through 7.06. Thank you, Mr. Romano. You've heard the recommendation. Would someone like to make a motion? I move. Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there a second? Second. Thank you, Mr. Chumley. Is there any discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Rudy? Yes. Mr. Chumley? Yes. Miss Samborn? Yes. Mrs. Spencer? Yes. Mr. Pat? Yes. Five. Yes. Thank you. All right. So, this time of year, we we bring forward um our updates on our strategic plan. So, LA Preston is going to come forward and talk about it. Dan's gonna put up the presentation. Good evening. So, uh, this evening we just wanted to provide a a real quick update and it's not I mean the school year has just started, so it's
016not an update on the progress that we've made um with the plan, but it's really an update on the progress that we've made in terms of how we plan to move forward with implementing our district strategic plan. And so it's really meant to um be a conversation with you around our strategy and around um our intentional implementation of our plan. We have one slide and um and and that's really um by choice and with intention. One of the things that I think we've um that we're really good in education is like alphabet soup. We have lots of acronyms for lots of things and you need like a, you know, a table of contents and some sort of like decipher special decipher code to like help you understand all the things that um that we're talking
017about. And so this is really um and oftentimes it feels like just initiative overload, one thing after the next after the next and and it it can get really confusing and our priorities can get lost in that. And so this is was really um our um our our best effort at really being able to both like literally and I I guess figuratively bring things under like the same roof and really try to um to show the alignment and the connection between um our district's strategic plan um between our our work with leader and me as a framework for continuous improve improvement and ultimately how it's how we're um wanting it to help us achieve our goals. And so just as a reminder, last year was the first year that we partnered with um the Franklin
018CVY organization around bringing Leader in Me to our district. And I will say um at first it really um my own understanding and knowledge of it was really more specific to like the leadership development skills that we were going to that uh that we wanted to teach in all of our students. But what we've come to really more deeply understand over the past year is that it really provides us not only um an avenue to to teach um leadership development and students, but really a framework for our entire district to use um for continuous improvement. And so you'll see here the um you know the the vin diagram around culture, leadership and academics. And those are the three pillars, the three key areas that um that are important to us as an organization. And I
019don't know, I just lost my uh my sound here. Anyway, I can keep going. Um but leadership, culture, and academics are those three core areas um that that our continuous improvement efforts fall under. And so you'll see in our graphic here um the colorcoded like windows green, blue and red and those are really aligned with those areas of culture, academics and leadership. And so the handheld is supposed to be Oh. Oh yeah, you can use the handheld. All right. Hello again. We're back. Um I I'm really going to keep this on this stand. I don't want to feel like I'm getting ready to perform here. Um so so this is really meant to show the intersection and the alignment between our district strategic plan elements of um leader and me and ultimately the goals that
020we aspire to achieve. And so if you notice like those um bottom three layers, those are the foundational elements of our house. the foundation, the the steps upon which um our goals can be like accomplished. And so that first row, if you were to see it says people, performance, and pathways, and place. So if we were going to quiz you like where did those come from? People, performance, and pathways, and place that comes from our new strategic plan. And that those are the goals like the big overarching goals of our strategic plan that we want all students to be educated in a safe modern learning environment. That's the the place that we want all students to have access to a high quality like group of educators. That's the people. And that we want all students
021to have access to a rigorous curriculum and support system to develop the academic and life skills that transfer. That's what that bottom pillar is really um kind of all about that those are foundational pieces upon which like we're we're wanting to build our our district. The second row um comes from leader and me and those are um what are called core paradigms. And so a paradigm is like a way that you see yourself or a way that you see others or a way that you see the world. And so one of the things that we're really learning um from leader and me is that the things that we see, how we see one another, how we see students, how we see ourselves, that impacts the things that we do, the choices that we make, and
022ultimately it impacts the results that we get. And so this like second row is really around those core paradigms, wanting to shift our perspective to see for example that everyone can be a leader. everybody, all students, staff, they have the ability to be a leader. And when we start seeing that in ourselves and others, it impacts the decisions that we make about choices um that we provide for students or decisions that we make about staff, etc. So these core paradigms, everyone can be a leader, everyone has genius, change starts with me, like I'm the person who can, you know, to like channel Randy, like we all have our own 20 square feet, right? And so like we have the ability change starts with us within that. Um that we want to empower students to lead
023their own learning and that educators and families should partner to deliver um to to help develop the whole person. So again those are our core paradigms and the ways in which we're wanting to see um ourselves and and others. And that third like foundational pillar is around two elements. The leadership and life skills. So that's our the seven habits of highly effective people that were working to um teach students those leadership and life skills, the development of that through um at the elementary level. We have time every morning um where that's part baked into like part of every day for students. Um same thing at the middle school and at the high school. we've um created like leadership development skills so all students will have an opportunity to participate in those courses. And so that's
024one foundational piece of our approach. And then the second is around um being able to make datainformed decisions um that can help improve student achievement. And so um what we're learning about it's called the four disciplines of execution. And so like the first part of the four disc disciplines of execution is that you focus what's on what's wildly important. Um short is is called wig. So wildly important goal. What is the goal that we have as a district that is wildly important? And so we've we've established a goal around increasing our district's performance index. So we talked a little bit about how that um really encourages all students to continue to advance to um the highest levels achie of achievement for themselves. So we've established a wildly important goal at the district level. Each of
025our buildings have established wildly important goals that are in alignment with our district's goal as have um grade levels, common courses, etc. we've we have um alignment across the district around what's wildly important. So that's kind of that first discipline of um execution is focus on what's wildly important. The second part of that is act on the lead measures. We don't ever want to wait for a whole year to figure out did we actually like reach our goal. Um, we want to establish rhythms over the course of the year where we're we're monitoring our progress, where we're as an organization, we want to be leading and learning. We want to um to know to have a high um degree of correlation between like the things that we're doing and the results that we get so
026we can continue to replicate success. And so acting on the lead measures allows us to to monitor that progress and to be responsive. If things that we're doing aren't getting us the results that we want, then we can make midcourse corrections and not have to wait for a whole year to have gone by before we would make modifications. And so that's the second part of those four disciplines of execution. The third part is to create a compelling scoreboard. Nobody like the one of the analogies uh that one of our presenters gave was around bowling. Like if you were to put a sheet up right in front of the pins and bowl like would that be any fun? No. Like you want to see did you actually knock pins over? Did you like win? Did you
027how did you perform? The same thing is true with us. Like it's no fun to do to do a bunch of things and to like actually not know if you're the things that you're doing are winning or not. And so creating a compelling scoreboard is really around being able to keep track of what we're doing and to celebrate the successes and to like build positive momentum around um around our actions and the the impact that they're having. So that's the third discipline. Um and then the fourth discipline is really around um celebrating success, right? It's around being able to um to continue to um to hold ourselves to create a cadence of accountability is like technically what the fourth one is, but it's around holding ourselves accountable. And for us, accountability is not about like
028like forcing somebody into something, but accountability is more about a mutual feeling that you can count on me and I can count on you. Together, we can like accomplish any goals that we've established for ourel. So that's these four disciplines of execution. It's something that across an entire organization, we're really working to um to build our skill sets for how we can leverage those um those tools to to help us reach our wildly important goal. So those are like those foundational pieces. The the middle of the house really represents the things that we're going to do, how we're going to work together. So the bottom is like how are we seeing things and how is the like way we're seeing things impacting the things that we are the the ways that we're act that we're
029working together. And so like I said before the green, the blue and the red represents um action teams that we are forming across the district. We'll have district action teams as well as building action teams that are aligned to these areas. And if you notice like there's one really big, it's more like a door and not a window. That is our achieving goals. Like ultimately this is about us being able to achieve our wildly important goals. And each of these are um are important components to helping us be able to do that. And so we'll be able to provide you updates over the course of the year with each of the action teams and the work that they're doing. But it's really all meant to be in service of our students and our district achieving
030goals, not like in competition of or you know sometimes um like we know people only have so much time. And so this is really about being able to in some ways um say no to some things so that we can prioritize the things that that matter most for us. And so that that middle really represents how we're going the things that we're going to do. And if you get up to like the eaves of the house, you'll notice our portrait of a graduate and you'll notice uh what became really important for us with our district's strategic plan around we really want students who are prepared for anything, not just something. Um and the five stars and the you know peak of the roof represents um that is our goal. We want to be a five-star
031district. And so these really these then are like the results that we want to accomplish from the way that we're beginning to like see and approach our work, the the ways that we're going to work together, the things we're going to do ultimately to get us to these goals, the results that we that we want to get. And so this is something that we've shared with our district leadership team. Uh we we brought together twice, once in June and and another time again in August. all of our building leadership teams together across the district to really um have this not just be something that like lives, you know, on a on a screen but then like doesn't actually play out in practice. And so this is something that we want uh that we will be
032modeling ourselves. We're going to learn by doing like as an administrative team. This is how we're going to be structuring our work. Um and and really our desire is to to build an aligned system where we're building capacity across the organization to have this just be like how we do business and to really build um you know a collaborative culture where um you know where we are leveraging these tools to help us um just improve the ways of working and and honestly this is like the work forever and ever. like this is the work of continuous improvement and we're hoping that by being able to like clearly articulate our priorities and what matters most that it'll help people be able to like tune out some of the noise that that comes and to really just
033be able to um to focus on what matters most. So that's the update on um how we're planning to you know implement not only our strategic plan but to really leverage leader and me for continuous improvement and our goal is to really not just have um leader and me schools to but to become a leader in me like lighthouse district um that that can really um that we can be able to like celebrate and tell our story not just to the area but um you know to the state and the the country um over time. So we um we've worked really closely with um consultants from Leader and Me. They really are partners where this isn't about us just like doing leader and me, but it's really about working in partnership to be able to
034leverage the tools for continuous improvement that they offer alongside of our district's unique goals and priorities and strategic plan to really help us um have to to not just like do what they say, but to leverage the tools that they have to help us accomplish our unique our goals that are unique to us. So, it's been a really great partnership and we look forward to um continuing this journey. Any questions? Statements slashquest. I I assume since you've listed listed all of those things, each one of those play an important role and so you as administrators, you guys are to, you know, um help guide people to that. we as a board is our way of helping and assisting by providing the tools and and and approving the the things that you're saying that you're needing.
035So, for example, the leader and me in order for us to accomplish this goal, it's important for us as the board to then be able to approve the things that you're needing. Yeah, absolutely. Does that make sense? My statement, it does. So um yeah, I mean I think what we are um continuing to do is to build a systematic approach to continuous improvement and there are some really foundational pieces to that. Leader and me being one of those and so um you know there comes a a financial commitment to having access to you know those resources and supports. And so in that particular example, absolutely I and it's our job to be able to then share with you the return on investment that has come from that. Um but ultimately this is really about um
036capacity building across the system and there are going to be pieces and parts kind of aligned with all of these things that are really essential parts of being able to make this happen. Um and and so yeah, I think if there's like a missing pillar, you know, for example, like a whole step missing, um our foundation is not going to be super strong and and we won't be able to ultimately get to where we'd like to be. So um so absolutely that partnership um is really essential for us. Perfect. Thank you so much. Yeah, thank you. Any other questions? I would just want to add that Ellie and her team have done an amazing job with this and I've and I've been in this this game a while and professional development can go really good
037or really bad sometimes and they have the way they've evolved this from a program to something that really is us is amazing and to watch our leaders and our teachers embrace this not as another thing but like embrace this as we want this to be our way of practice. We want this to be our way of work uh over the summer was also like was amazing. So, and I I want to just point out another part that Ellie said that we skipped over, but it was important part. This helps us focus on what we need to do, and it lets us let go of those things that we don't we no longer need to focus on. And that really makes what we do clear. And if we're clear, we're going to be successful. Yeah. I
038think we're all really good at making like to-do lists, but not often like to not do lists, right? And we just like add more things. And that's really what we're um wanting to stop doing so that we we really can elevate the time and the energy and the resources to the things that um that we believe are most aligned with us achieving the goals that that you've established for us um and you know our um our aspirations as a district. So Thank you. Thank you. You look good. I understand it. Thank you. Great. There'll be a quiz later on. Well, not when. So, next we have Randy Gart uh talking about our policy. First reading. First reading. So, we talked a little bit about this before. Randy, other mic. Other mic. I'm not loud enough.
039You can't hear me. I told you to move the mic away. Just be quiet. So, um policy 5136 is personal communication devices. The board was very proactive last year as we passed this um and um we felt really good about it because we I thought we're on way ahead of it because we had already implemented for 24 25 school year. Um actually Natasha and I think Greg worked with Columbus as well on this and we felt really really good about this. In August, um, Niola came out with a new template and we we had followed that template to the tea and felt really good about that. And then about 7 days ago, uh, how Department of Education or Duke came out with a new definition of instructional day, which included, um, no cell use during
040passing periods as well as lunch. And so we scrambled. I went back and forth with legal and basically Neola had a different interpretation than the state and the statute actually says school day doesn't say instructional day but as advice of our attorney uh we we follow the state mandate and so we need to make an adjustment to 5136 we followed everything in that as well which identifies students um some of our medically fragile students 504s IEPs and health concerns and when rest assured this policy will not affect those um students that they'll have access to their cell phones so they monitor things with their cell phones on a day-to-day basis period by period. This doesn't affect those and I know those are questions out there that you might get. Um that will not impact this.
041The main change in 5130 uh 5136 is the use during lunch and during passing periods. And so it is spelled out now that students are not to be using those um at any grade level during those times. Other things uh that specifies is that staff members can give students and can authorize students to use a personal um communication device if it's related to the curriculum. for example, our photography class may use cell phones um for that purpose uh of what they do during class. Um this is an adjustment and the reason I wanted to put this in uh and get it in because we started the year with this and we want to make sure our policy matches what we're doing. And so I want to do a first reading tonight, do a second reading
042at the next uh board meeting. And I did receive the updated policies that I will be sending you this week, all 215 pages of them. So the policy committee, we will be scheduling a meeting to get together and we will go through that process of uh going through a first and second reading throughout September. Um but uh this is a first readingformational purposes only. Uh and then I'll come back with you for a second reading. Then it will go into policy at the next meeting. I know it's in the news. I know there's a lot of questions. We did a lot of due diligence behind the scenes to find out what our neighbors were doing as well. And we feel very comfortable that uh we are along with with other districts around us. Thank you.
043You answered my question. Anybody else have anything else? Okay. Superintendent comments. I want to keep it brief. Um, I want to say we had a great start to the school year. On Thursday and Friday, we had staggered starts, but today was the first day that everyone was in class in session. And I have to just give many, many thanks and kudos to our classified and certified staff. They did amazing job with with getting the kids, working with them, and helping them be successful the last three days. And our our admin as well. um very smooth start and and uh uh was told not to jinx it, but it was I'm I'm very proud of all of our staff and everyone that's cares for our kids because of they showed up day one. They showed up
044and they've been showing up for the last three and and I wholeheartedly feel they're going to show up for the next 185. So, I appreciate that. Uh police night out I thought went really well. A lot of people came and visited our booth and Becky took a lot of pictures, kids, adults, everything. So, uh, almost too many pictures, but she loves to take pictures, so that went very well. Uh, and then I, uh, our first home game, home football game is this Friday at 7 p.m. at the high school. So, I invite everyone to come out and celebrate, uh, our team and our school as we take on Mounting. That's right. Thank you. Thank you, Dr. Holtz. Moving on to treasures business. Okay. Um, I have two action items this evening. Um, item 9.01 01
045is a request for authorization to execute an agreement to transfer excess property. Um I think over the past you know uh I've been asked the question do we have property or assets that that um we should be or can be disposing of. I mean there is the belief that if we have an asset we should be utilizing you know that asset to the fullest. Um, so there's two um two parcels, two properties or even if one's a portion of a property um that we determined um um is no longer needed by the district. Um and as we move forward with that, I want you to to um to connect with a couple things. Number one is with a with a property transaction, we don't do any of this without the legal involved or the attorney
046involved. It is um to say the least kind of a complex thing that we just can't sell property. There are certain things we have to go through. The advantage of of working with Union Township on these properties that are that um are available in the in the township is that we can connect them to economic development. So we want to make sure that we we do get our fair value of the assets that we have and that property that we no longer need. But in addition to that, we want to make sure that as we move forward that they become revenue producing for us. Okay? So that that what happens to those properties also becomes, you know, taxable so that they can you know help offset uh you know other property owner revenues that we
047get and other things. So a we get the fair value, b that they become revenue producing for us. Um and so with item 9.01 1. Um, uh, this is a resolution authorizing the sale and transfer of real property to Union Township for economic development, redevelopment, and job creation. Um, and that, uh, you looked at the resolution. There's a couple things that it specifically determines and identifies and I'm just going to identify goes down to the now therefore be it resolves within a couple of sections that one and I'm just paraphrasing from those paragraphs that the properties are no longer needed for purposes of facilitating and providing for the public education of students within the district and we have determined that two that the board president and treasurer of the board to execute a transfer agreement.
048So in other words, we go into a formal agreement that we execute where the properties do get transferred to the township. Okay? That the board approves of that sale and transfer and convenience of the properties to the township. And also note within that transfer agreement that as those properties are sold, the revenue does come back um to the district for that. Um so um it is the recommendation and request uh for the board to approve the motion uh to authorize the supernet and treasures board president to negotiate and execute an agreement to transfer excess property for economic development redevelopment and job creation within Union Township Fair Claremont County as presented. 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?
049Second, Spencer. Thank you. Is there any discussion? Uh, yes. Why wouldn't we just go and sell these properties? Just like if I wanted to sell my house, I call a realtor, I want to sell my house. Why wouldn't we just use a realtor instead of using the Union Township? Sure. That that's a good question. And and I think the answer lies in probably two-part response to that. Um, one the openness of just doing a bid and you know um can we do that? Yes. And somebody come bidding on it and we release it to the highest bidder and quite frankly not knowing and understanding what happens after that. Um, and then two is the the addition of that it's it is connected to economic development, which our job is I mean we are connected to
050economic development, but we're not the experts in it. And if there's experts in it, that's typically with a township or with a county or or with an entity that that one of their major emphasis is economic development and to do that. So, um, but yes, could we? The answer is yes. Okay. But what's the best route for us to go? And and I believe after talking with council and and with others that this would be the best route for the school district to go to maximize the return back to us and then the money comes back to the school district. Correct. The the value of the property comes back to the school district A and B it becomes revenue producing property. Okay. All right. Thank you. Okay. Is there any other discussion? Roll call, please.
051Mr. Rudy, yes. Mrs. Spencer, yes. Mr. Patton, yes. Mr. Chumley, yes. Miss Samborn, yes. Five, yes. Thank you. Item 9.02. Um, and this resolution is acknowledging Union Township um, tax and incremental financing extension um, and waving the notice of of the the period. Um, so the township did serve us notice that they would like to extend um, a tiff that already exists um, by 15 years. Um we do acknowledge that um does the board have to approve um that extension and the answer to that that is no. But I think in an effort of transparency that that we want to make sure that our community and people don't think we're that we're not responding or not doing things um you know publicly. Um this resolution acknowledges that we were served that notice that they're going
052to extend that tiff. Um and then what what that extension is really for. Um and within um that agreement, you know, it's not listed out, but I these this tiff goes back to 200 five and five. Okay. It is several properties. um it's already in existence and the availability or the ability for the township to do that does exist without um the approval of the school district. The most important note that we have with it is that um it is a make whole agreement that exists with it. And you know again what does that mean? That means that taxes that that otherwise were assessed against the property owner if not for the tiff do come to the school district. The route that that goes through is that the the property um is abated. There is
053a pilot or payment in lie of taxes. pilots the acronym for payment in lie of taxes that collected by the county auditor paid to the township. The township and and my office do the calculation of what that make whole would be which is basically the calculation of of that tax revenue and then that is then uh passed from the township to the school district. So that's been in existence. the request to ex excuse me not a request but the notification that that extension is going forward is there and this resolution is acknowledging that um that re that notification to us okay thank you Mr. Romano you've heard the recommendation would someone like to make a motion move Mr. Rudy thank you is there a second second Miss Sanborn thank you is there any discussion roll
054call please Mr. Mr. Rudy, yes. Miss Sanborn, yes. Mrs. Spencer, yes. Mr. Patton, yes. Mr. Chumley, yes. Five, yes. Thank you. Um, the the the two comments that I have. One, appreciate uh the board spending a good portion of their day Saturday at the retreat. Um, I think I think we may have said it was 9 to 12 and it ended up being 9 to2. Um, so there was overtime put in in on that and I do really appreciate it and um it was uh very encouraging to me um the interaction that took place that was there. Um I think one thing that was profound to me that there was one question asked that eluded to probably a 15 20 minute discussion and which was really you know to me um and it fit in
055really well with the whole explanation of the strategy that was there you know with it. So appreciate uh you know the cabinet the board superintendent taking the time out to do that because I thought that was pretty important to do. Um secondly on our area of advocacy um you know we put our foot on the pedal from probably last December through June until the bianium bill was passed. Um and you know sometimes you think that with the stroke of the clock from June 30th to July 1, well it's all done and the bianium bill exists and then you know we realize that there there was the veto right with the governor of a few things and then there was the override one override. Um but we can't we can't take our advocacy foot off the
056pedal. Um there are still um some things out there um that don't necessarily work for the district and and in in certain aspects don't necessarily work for our community at all. And and we need to continue to be advocates um not just for the district but for the community as well. um and continue communicating with our um legislators, not just in this area, but but I think others throughout the state that that are proposing certain bills and certain things. Um, I believe we are still a proponent of, uh, targeted tax relief. Um, and just not a sweeping, you know, uh, you know, bill that may, uh, eliminate taxes and and such, but, um, we we do need revenue coming to the district. Um, but it needs to be, you know, in a way that is
057fitting not just for the state, but for this district and for our community. So, um, I guess the message is we still need to to put our foot to the pedal and and keep advocating for what this community needs. Thank you, Mr. Romano. Moving on, it looks like board comments. I will start with Mrs. Spencer. Well, I'm excited for this year. I know everything it's kind of new and different with Mr. Folultz, Dr. Folultz at the helm, but I think everything went really well. It sounded like everything went really well and I know my grandchildren are very excited to get it started. Maybe not as much as we are, but they are very eager to go back to school and see their friends and all that stuff, but and I appreciate Ellie breaking it down.
058I appreciate the the visual with the steps and the pillars and I appreciate I know all the time you took to do that. I appreciate it and I it helps me get a hold of what's going on. But yeah, I'm excited about the new year starting up. That's all. Thank you, Dr. Sam. Um, I just wanted to say Saturday, it was a a really nice opportunity to get to see everybody and just to collaborate and to be involved and to hear what's going to happen this year. I just think that we're on an exciting year this year. And I'm glad that you're now officially our superintendent and we look forward to working with you and and doing great things this year. And um I appreciate uh the cabinet team member being there Saturday. I know
059that takes away from taking care of grandkids, you know, and then being with your children. So I I appreciate all of them that that was there Saturday. Thank you, Miss Mr. Trump. Randy said no. I want to piggy back off of that. Um I want to thank our cabinet. They take the vast array of knowledge and information and they dumb it down for us. So I think it's great how they are able to um to feed us that information so easily. Um this job isn't always easy, but it's a lot easier with a team like this. So um I do want to thank you guys for taking your time out uh on a Saturday um to join us. So, and I I hope everyone has had uh a smooth start to school like we have.
060Um Merwin seems to be rolling pretty well and I hope that's um the same across the district. So, thank you, Mr. Ch, Mr. Rudy. Um I'd like to thank you too for organizing and getting Saturday done. It was wonderful. It's nice to to get so much good information. And secondly, um, great media coverage today for the district. I I was watching the news. I still have asleep. And boom, there there was Mr. Duel. So, he did a very nice job representing us. Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Um, before I forget, because I tend to forget this, our next board meeting will be September the 8th. It is at 7 p.m. and it is here at the civic center. Uh the statements that I'll make is again is um more of a definitely of a kudos. I
061appreciate the fact, you know, I've heard in the district as long as I've been in the district that, you know, we're looking under the rocks. We're turning over everything. And and this is a clear uh show that that's what we're doing. We're we're we're being transparent to the community. We're trying to find ways. Um and so I appreciate that. And as we continue to find ways, one of the things that I think is important is that um when when we're looking at areas of the need of areas, we want to make sure that it does not affect that those that that house that we have built. Um because again, you can't build a good house, solid house on on a weak foundation. So I want to make sure that as we're looking at ways that
062we can perhaps save the district money, I don't want to affect the the foundation of the house. And uh again, I appreciate everybody's um interaction and everybody else's um work that they put into this. Uh it is it does not go without notice. So uh that is all that I have. I've rambled enough. Um I do not have a need to go into executive session. So at this point, it looks like we have concluded our meeting. Would someone like to make a motion to move? Thank you, Mr. Rudy. Is there a second? Second, Mr. Chunley. Thank you. I assume no discussion. Roll call, please. Mr. Rudy, yes. Mr. Chumley, yes. Miss Samborn, yes. Mr. Spencer, yes. Mr. Patton, yes. Five, yes.