001Thank you. Thank you all so much for being here. Thank you for attending. We are very delighted to have you all this evening. And thank you for attending the July 9th, 2025 meeting of the Westerville City Schools Board of Education. This evening's agenda will be displayed on the screens here for you to view in front of the room. Printed agendas are also available for our guests or you may find the agenda on your mobile device which is available by connecting to the district's website at www.wcsoh.org. Click on the our district link, select board of education, and then follow the board docs link to our current meeting agenda. There will be one opportunity to address the board this evening in agenda item 5.1. There is a signup sheet as well located on the table in the
002back of the room. Each speaker will have three minutes to address the board and a timer will be shown on the screen. And with that, Miss Marshall, will you please call the role? Mrs. Alman, here. Mr. Hackleman, Mrs. Valentine, here. Mrs. Leian, here. We will now rise uh for the pledge of allegiance. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Next we have agenda item district highlights and recognitions um which is three. We will do both 3.01 and 3.02 but we will begin with may have a motion to um approve the resolution of commendation for the OSAA track and field state meets for the 200 meter dash champion Olivia Menselow. So moved. Second. Thank you. And
003at this time, I will invite my colleague Louise Valentine to the podium. May I have a Excuse me. May I please have um a motion to um present the resolution for the 2025 OSAA track and field state meet? Mrs. Almond. Yes. Mrs. Valentine. Yes. Mr. Aleman. Yes. Mrs. Le. Yes. And at this time, I will welcome my colleague Louise Valentine to present these amazing uh resolutions. Thank you. All right. School has been out for well over a month, but we still have awesome awards for students. That's exciting. So tonight we're recognizing students from Westerville Central and Westerville North who earned top spots during the 2025 Ohio High School Athletic Association track and field state tournament which was June 6th and 7th at Ohio State's Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. We'll start with members of Westerville Central's
004track and field team. So we'd like to invite Olivia Menllo to join us up front. Congratulations. Yes. So Olivia wrapped up her senior year at Central with a state championship in the 200 meter dash. This season Olivia was undefeated in the 200 meters. That is nine total races undefeated. She was the 100 meter and 200 meter champion in OC's districts and regionals. And she now owns the school record in the 200 meter dash. That's amazing. She also placed seventh in the 100 meter dash at the state meet. All right. Next, uh Robert Young, can you join us up front? He's not here. Okay. Well, we will still uh read his accommodation anyway. Robert plays second in the 400 meter dash from Central. Uh next, we'd like to invite up Simone Smith. Not here either. All
005still awesome though. Simone placed fourth in the discus throw. Uh she was off for a year due to injury, but she is now the school record holder for both discus and shot put. Um is Skyler Brittman here? All right, we got her. Congratulations. Yeah. So Skyler, she placed sixth in the 100 meter hurdles. And then finally from central, if we could have Audrey Noel, Angel Ward, Maya Blaz, and Tiffany Zulki join us up front. Oh, you're all here. Amazing. So, uh, Audrey, Angel, Maya, and Tiffany placed eighth in the 4x400 meter relay. All right, let's move on to North. So, we would like to invite Casey Carlos, Noah Kemp, Jeffrey Karns, and Gabriel Weise from North High School to come up. You're representing the group today, huh? All right. Well, these uh lovely gentlemen were
006recently recorded for placing fourth in the 4x 800 meter race during the indoor state track meet. This time we are recognizing them for placing seventh in the same race at the outdoor state track meet. So congratulations. So, congrats again to these members of Central and North's track and field team and their incredible accomplishments. Um, I I do not run, so I I do not envy all of you, but great job for running. Um, so we are proud of your dedication, your hard work. Thank you for representing your schools, our district, and this community with your determination. We also want to acknowledge um coach David Menllo and coach Johnny Jackson and athletic director Andy I from Westerville Central and coach Nick Horton. Oh, I'm sorry. Coach Nick Horton and Coach Johnny Jackson from uh Westerville North
007as well as principal Kurt Yansy and all the family members who are here to cheer on these wonderful young adults. Thank you all. We will just give folks a moment to exit the room. Thank you so much. Up next, we have agenda item number four, reports. Um, and so I will turn it over to Superintendent Angie Hamburg to provide some comments. Thank you. Um, huge congratulations to all the kids that are heading out. appreciate everybody coming out on a uh July evening and we're super proud of all the kids' accomplishments in track and field this year. Um do want to kind of just shift over and provide a quick update on some funding. Nicole's going to assist me on the federal part here. Um we have been talking for several months about our state funding
008for education. Um, we were happy to see that the governor had vetoed several of the lane items that affected levies and other funding considerations for schools. Um, but we have learned that the House is planning to come back in session on Monday, July 21st, 11:00 a.m. Um, and they are looking at overwriting a few of those areas of the vetos that the governor made. So specifically looking at um item number 55 which is in regards to property tax on the county budget commission authority. Um we have expressed concerns with this because we are a district that straddles two counties. So we have residents who live in both Franklin and Delaware counties and this um item would create a commission where the Franklin County budget authority would be making decisions on levies that impact residents in
009our community that live in two different counties. So that would be one that we have a concern with. Um the next one is the 20 mil floor calculation that doesn't impact us at this time. And then there is um item number 66 which would be placing restrictions on the types of school district property tax levies. And so um we've kind of seen a trend over the last several years that puts more and more restrictions on how we're able to secure funding. We have lots of instability in all of our revenue sources. And so it's becoming very very challenging to kind of keep all those balls in the air um when things are constantly changing. So we are encouraging our legislators to not override the governor's veto on those items and would encourage our community to
010join us in those efforts. Uh in the meantime, we were really surprised to learn at the, you know, there's been lots of talk over the last several months about the uh US Department of Education and the potential for um losing funding in that area, but we were told that um our funding for this school year should be coming through out of what are called our title funds. And these are um specific earmarked funds that are intended to enhance services um for different areas. And so we have three in particular. Uh Nicole has put together a slide for us to just kind of share. These funds were supposed to be released on July 1st. They were already voted on and appropriated by the legislation or by the legislators at a at a US federal level. And
011at the last minute, districts received notification that these were being held. So, right now, we're not sure what the status is of these funds. Um, but these are very important dollars that we use in three areas, as you can see. Um, the first one is title three. So, here in Westerville, one in 10 of our students are English language learners. And these are funds that are used for English language facilitators, translation services, and training for our staff to be able to work with our students and help them as they learn English. Um, title four is for student support and academic enrichment. And you can see there, we fund a social worker, mental health specialist, training, and software out of those funds. And then that bottom one, title 2A, these are funds that have been used
012for years and years for um this this title in particular has been around forever to support instruction. So most of the training that we do right now, we're working on multi-tered systems of support and getting frameworks in place across our district that's consistent in providing our students with the support they need to be successful academically and socially and emotionally. And um we have a lot of training that's planned even over the summer and into next school year that comes out of this title. So as you can see when you put those all together, we're looking at $919,000 that the federal government has withheld from us that was supposed to be allocated on July 1st. So, you know, this is as we continue to talk about just the constant instability of our funding, almost a million
013dollars that we have already planned for for this upcoming school year, including staff positions, that is potentially in jeopardy. So, just wanted to make our community aware of these concerns. Um, you know, if you would like to reach out to your US legislators and express your concern about this, that would be helpful. Nicole, I didn't know if you had anything that you would like to add in um in regards to our federal funding. No, I just want to reiterate that um these are these are funding sources that have already been appropriated by Congress. Um, and so when we had, like Angie said earlier, when we had talked about, you know, the Department of Education and what that looks like in the future, um, the grants and the title funds and all of our federal entitlement
014grants, uh, we were told that we wouldn't have to worry about that until 27. So, there was no conversation about, uh, those being potentially taken away from us during 26, which is the year that we're in now. and we learned about this on June 30th, the day before we were supposed to get the allocations. So, um it's just really disheartening to see that, you know, we've been focused on the state so much and now we're dealing with it on the federal side, too. And so, um yeah, I we just don't know what's what's going to be the outcome of this at this point. Thank you so much for sharing that. um Superintendent Hamburg um in providing additional remarks. Uh Miss um Marshall, we are going to move on to agenda item number five, uh public
015comments. The board of education welcomes public comments on educational issues of interest to our school community. The board does not discriminate based on the identity or viewpoint of the speaker during her public participation. However, the board president may limit comments that are obscene, abusive, or harassing. In an attempt to protect the privacy interests of our students, the board asks that speakers not identify students by name during their comments. Persons having public complaints about district personnel, programming, or operations will be referred to the process set forth in board policy 9130. Finally, the board reminds speakers that their statements should be directed to the board as a whole and not to individual board members. Each member will have three minutes to address the board and a timer will be shown on the screens and Miss Dennis will
016call time when three minutes have elapsed. Finally, our first speaker this evening is Mr. Abdi. And I'm sorry if I mispronounced the last name is Ali. Is that Thank you so much for being here. Hi, my name is Hoden. I will be interpreting for Mr. Isach Ali. Um, he will be speaking in Somali. So, I'll just tell you what he has told me. Go ahead. Uh, Good afternoon. I would like to say hello to all of you. I'm a father who is who have children in the Westerville school district. I also do have children in charter school. Uh yesterday I was planning to bring all my kids together to Westerville City School to enroll them so I can have all my family in one district. Okay. So, yesterday I was told the reason why I
017went to the enrollment office is because I wanted to bring in some of the documents that was given to me because I was missing IDs and birth certificates which then was asked of me to bring to the office and I did. When I brought the documents to the office, I was faced with hostility um at the enrollment office. Okay. Uh so when I came there yesterday, I was uh faced with the person who is in charge of enrolling my children to the school and the person had said uh hey I need your um I need your land I need document from your landlord that these extra kids are in the household. Unfortunately, I did not put them on the lease at that moment. Uh she said then uh I'm going to have to speak to
018my uh to my manager to speak and see what we can do. When she went to her manager, I was faced with so much hostility and I felt very belittled. Okay. So, uh what the manager came out whomever she said was the manager came to to talk to me. When she came to talk to me, she said, "You are harassing my employees. I need you to get out of the office." I was not told why. I didn't understand why. She just looked at me and I smiled thinking to myself, "What have I done to get this type of treatment?" Oh, sorry. Um, so in this Yeah. Okay. Okay, thank you so much for coming. Next, we will move on to agenda item number six, board meeting minutes. Um, may I have a motion to approve
019agenda item number 6.1? So, what? Oh, I'm sorry. Um, to approve 6.1, uh, which is the, uh, minutes of the regular board of education meeting held on Monday, June 23rd, 2025. So moved. Thank you. Second. Next. May I have a motion to approve? Are there any comments or questions? Thank you all so much. Thank you. And now we will vote. Mr. Huckleman. Yes. Mrs. Valentine. Yes. Mrs. Alman. Yes. Mrs. Lee. Yes. Thank you. Now we will move on to agenda item number 6.2 uh which is to approve the minutes of the special session board of education meeting held on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. may have a um motion to approve. Second, Miss Marshall. Any comments or questions? Mrs. Alman, yes. Mr. Yes. Mrs. Valentine, yes. Mrs. Le, yes. Thank you. And now we will move
020on to agenda item number seven, financials for July 9th, 2025. May I have a motion to approve agenda item number 7.1, which is to approve the financial reports and investments for June 2025. May I have a motion to approve? So moved. Thank you. Any comments or questions? I will go over this before you guys vote. That's all right. Thank you so much, Miss Marshall. So this month uh we are going over the June 30 um monthly financial report. So June 30 is the last month in the fiscal year of 2025. So uh we had for our general fund we had year-to- date receipts of 250.2 million yeartoate expenditures of 292.7 million. I do want to remind the board that those expenditures include the transfers into other funds. Um, that's why you see those so high.
021And we ended with an unencumbered fund balance in the general fund of 115.9 million. For all funds, we had year-to- date receipts of 391.2 million, year-to- date expenditures of 410.3 million, and we ended with an unencumbered fund balance for all funds of 214.8 million. And that's all I have for that. Are there any questions for me? Seeing none, Miss Marshall, please take the role. Mrs. Valentine, yes. Mrs. Alman, yes. Mr. Aleman, yes. Mrs. Lean, yes. Thank you. And may I please uh move on to agenda item number 7.02 to approve the purchases in accordance with OC 5705.41 41 and board policy 6320. Miss Marshall, do you have any comments for this item? May I please have a motion to approve? Second. Thank you. Miss Marshall, do you have any comments? I do. Uh, so these
022are what we call in and out purchase orders. This is where we have a purchase order that's dated um after an invoice date. So in this case, we have one for Westerville South Theater. Um the invoice is dated March of 2025 but it's not actually for an event until March of 2026 well in advance. Um so we do have the purchase order in that was in a different fiscal year. So we weren't able to get a purchase order open until the new fiscal year on July 1. Uh so this is really just a formality for the board's approval because it does exceed that $3,000 threshold that we need to pay. Thank you. Do we have any comments from board members? Seeing none, Miss Marshall, please take the role. Mrs. Altman, yes. Mr. Yes. Mrs. Valentine,
023yes. Mrs. Lean, yes. Next, we are going to move on to agenda item uh number 8.1 for personnel consent agenda for July 9th, 2025. Um, specifically resignations uh which are classified for July 9th, 2025. I suggest we might take these all as one 8.01 through 8.1. Thank you so much. And may I please have a motion to approve. So move. Second. Good evening, Vice President Levia, members of the board, Miss Marshall and Miss Hamburg. Tonight's personnel consent agenda includes action items with regard to resignations, retirement, leave of absence, contract status changes, one-time pays, and other employment related decisions. Additionally, there are threeus with our two OPC associations tonight. I'd like to recognize Jennifer Knap as our sole retiree on tonight's agenda. She's retiring after 27 years of service in Westerville City Schools. We appreciate her
024work with our student, staff, and community, and certainly wish her the best in the years ahead. Within item 8.08, it is my pleasure to have the opportunity to introduce a few members, actually four individuals who are recommended to replace administrators who have resigned from the district. Uh, first, Leticia Brown. Give a little wave or stand up there if you'd like. Um, Leticia has been selected to fill the assistant principal position at Walnut Springs Middle School. Miss Brown joins us from Columbus City Schools where she served as an elementary assistant principal. Miss Brown also has been an intervention specialist at the secondary level. She holds a bachelor's degree in education from Kent State University, a masterers of arts and teaching from Muskingham University, and a masters in educational leadership from Ohio Dominican University. Sierra Kundiff is
025recommended this evening to fill a special education coordinator role. Miss Kundiff comes to us from Reynoldsburg City Schools where she served as an elementary assistant principal. Miss Kundiff also has been a secondary math and science teacher where she had opportunities to work with a co-eing model with intervention specialists in the classroom as well. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in education from Wright State University. Additionally, she holds an education administration degree from Ashlin University. Also tonight, Maxwell Gunn. Maxwell is recommended to fill the assistant to fill the assistant principal role at Central High School. Mr. Mr. Gun joins us from Olantangi Berlin High School where he worked as an intervention specialist. He earned his bachelor's degree in education from the Ohio State University and a master's in educational leadership from the American College of
026Education. So, welcome. And finally, Jonathan Stevens is recommended to fill the assistant principal vacancy at North High School. Mr. Stevens, Paul in Mr. Stevens comes to us from the Early College Academy where he served as superintendent since 2015. Uh Mr. uh Mr. Stevens also has spent time as a secondary principal and secondary English teacher during his career. He holds a bachelor's degree in education from the Ohio State University and a master's degree in educational administration from Ashlin University. So welcome to each of the four of you. Finally on my list of items here for you tonight with regard to theus on tonight's agenda. These agreements with our OPC 138 and OPC 719 associations are one-year renewals of currentus in place to provide substitute custodian and substitute driver support from members of these unions due to
027the continual shortage of substitutes in these areas of support. I will point out I will point out that any employee providing substitute driver support is required to have all proper lure of transportation employees. And at this time I'm happy to take any questions you may have. Seeing as there are none, thank you so much for for providing that information. Mr. Heckleman. Yes. Mrs. Alman. Yes. Mrs. Valentine. Yes. Mrs. Lean. Yes. Next, we will move on to um agenda item number nine, old business for July 9th, 2025. Um and seeing as there is none, we will move on. Next we have agenda item number 10 new business and there is none as well. So we will also move on. Um we have next agenda item number 11 uh which we will recommend um action standing business
028for July 9th. We will start with 11.01 out of state and overnight field trips. Um at this time may I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Good evening. Tonight I have one overnight field trip for your consideration. Uh the Westerville Central High School cheerleading team would like to attend summer cheerleading camp at Ohio Northern University. And I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Seeing as do no questions on my end, are there any comments? No comments. Well, thank you so much for your time. Mrs. Alman, yes. Mr. Yes, Mrs. Valentine. Yes, Mrs. Lee. Yes. Next, we will move on to 11.02, which is the participation in the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding. Uh, Miss Marshall. May I have a motion to approve this? So, moved. Second. Uh,
029so this is the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Advocacy. We've been a member for quite some time. This group's been around since before the D decision, they're actually the ones that supported uh the whole conversation around equitable school funding uh starting way back in the early 90s. And uh this uh resolution will approve our membership and also um the per pupil allocation amount for the edge choice litigation that the district has been part of for some time now. So it's $1.50 per student and then the annual dues, coalition dues is 50 cents per student total for a total of $2. Thank you so much. And um next we will or I'm sorry. May we please have a motion to vote? Mrs. Valentine, yes. Mrs. Alman, yes. Mr. Yes. Mrs. Yes. And next we will move
030on to um agenda item 11.03 which is the resolution for impro impractality um of transportation. And may I have a motion to um approve? So move. Second. All right. Good evening Vice President Leman, members of the board, Superintendent Hamburg and Treasure Marshall. Ohio Revised Code allows for public schools to determine the impracticality of transportation after considering a number of factors including but not limited to the cost of providing transportation and the number of students being transported. The Department of Purchasing and Logistics has evaluated each listed private school student for the requirements of section 3327.02 of the Ohio Revised Code and declared the eight listed students impractical to transport. Approving this resolution would allow the district to offer payment in l of transportation in a manner provided for per the Ohio revised code at the rate
031set by the Ohio Department of Education and workforce. It is being recommended that the board of education approve declaring the listed students in practical for transportation and offering payment in lie of transportation. Thank you. Happy to take questions. Thank you so much. Are there any questions? Should I ask questions? Well, thank you. I'm pretty handy. Great job. Just a reminder that we are required to either transport these private school students or provide payment l of transportation. This is a requirement under the law. Correct. Thank you so much. And um may I have a motion to vote? Mrs. Alman, yes. Mrs. Valentine, yes. Mr. Heck, yes. Mrs. Le, yes. Um and next may I uh have a motion to Next we will um discuss resolution number 1104 authorizing an agreement with Burn and Jones construction for
032the asphalt parking lot restoration project. May I have a motion to approve? So moved. Second. Thank you. Thank you, Vice President Leebon, members of the board, Treasurer Marshall and Superintendent Hamburg. I'm pleased to present and support this resolution. It's, as you said, it's with uh sorry, I just lost my train of thought. Burnon Jones Construction Company. This is for what I would term the summer of 2025 asphalt paving projects. Uh for those that were here last year, we invoked a new scenario and are trying to use dollars a little more efficiently and and maximize our future investments. So last year we started uh actually doing the entire parking lots, case in point, ELC, McVey, Huber and others. This is a continuation of that at Walnut Springs. Um Heritage and Hawthorne. Uh it's the front lot
033at all the schools including parent drop off and bus drop off. I would note again Hawthorne as a rear lot we are not doing as well as Heritage has a side lot. So again it's their main front lots for the public and the board. Uh it's a total amount of $299,66. Uh just to share, Heritage is funded from what's called the permanent improvement millstone account and I'll defer to the treasur to expand on that if you have questions on it. Uh but it's money we can use for Robert Frost uh Heritage and North. The remainder of the other two are being funded from the ' 04 bond fund which had parking lot and playground money for use of that at this time. So, I'm happy to answer any questions. What's the Millstone lot? Explain it.
034Uh, the Milstone is a community authority that has a special assessment that goes to support those specific schools that that community is certified. Thank you. Are there any additional questions? Seeing none, may I have a motion to vote? Mr. Heckleman. Yes. Mrs. Yes. Mrs. Valentine? Yes, Mrs. Le. Yes. Um, next we have 1105. Uh, may have a which is to discuss resolution authorizing change order number 007 to agreement with Miles Mclan construction for the Hanby Elementary School kitchen remodeling project. U, may I have a um motion to approve? So moved. Second. Okay. So this is a little different than what you've seen in the past. It's actually what's called a change order. It's number seven. A change order affects a contract whether in time, scope, or dollars. This actually affects all three. Just to share,
035Hamby Elementary, as you know, is 104 year old school. So whenever we undertake restoration, we peel open a wall, look below the floor, look above the ceiling. Regardless of all our due diligence before looking at drawings, walking the building, talking to contractors, talking to our facilities department, there's always the risk of unknown. Unfortunately, we've discovered unknown or altered conditions for that which was planned for both below the floor and above the ceiling. Um, so in this case, we have to undertake architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing. There's a plethora of changes that have to happen. Uh the resolution for the change orders for $190,000. Uh we believe if we move forward with this be completed, we have an extension of time. So we talked about scope, talked about hours, we have an extension of time. Uh we
036believe we'd be able to occupy and go live just after Labor Day. Um just this year, we've already started talks with the food service department, uh with the principal, with the building department. Just to be clear, because we we're able to occupy the school. We just be able to use that part of the kitchen. Sorry if I missed school. I didn't want parents to think we were starting school aid at correct. So we have a plan to feed the students in lie of this new kitchen. We would use the former serving line which is in the same space. Uh but we also have plans to adequately seat students, give them a healthy meal and yet still complete the kitchen within that same space safely for all the occupants. did want to point out due to
037the due diligence of the 27 committee on the bond issue, that's where these funds come from. The bond issue the public uh approved in 2018 had what are called contingency funds for unknown specific to something like this. So unknown and historic building COVID would be an example, dare I say it, tariffs could be an example, inflation is an example. So things that you can't predict, but you still do your best to mathematically and scientifically build them into the equation, that was the case here. So I'm happy to say we have contingency dollars and the bond funds to pay for this. Uh we vetted it with engineers, architects, and the city and we believe this is the prudent course to move the project forward. So with that, I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you so
038much. Just out of curiosity, what were some of these unknowns? I'm seeing HVAC and structural issues. Correct. So structural was the floor. Uh it was assumed and believed based on drawings we already have in simple terms that we had dirt and a flat slab below us. We do not. We have remnants of a former theater or a sloped slab that essentially created condition that we couldn't put things under the new flooring system. So we have a grease trap, we have a floor drain, we have electrical, we have all these different things. and the structural floor that is in there, it's a floating pre-cast concrete floor. Bam. And if you cut any of that, it becomes useless. You have to reshort it, rebuild it. That's why there's significant dollars here. We just can't cut a piece
039out, put something under it, and hatch it. We have to physically rebuild it structurally for its integrity. Above the ceiling, the ceiling is roughly 20 feet tall in the current condition. Uh there was excessive duct work. So, just like in your own home, that rigid duck work that puts the AC all through your house, we have that above the ceiling. It was known. Unfortunately, there's almost three times as much as was known. And the walls, as planned, we were going to go vertical from the floor up to the deck above, but that duck works now in the way. So, now we have to support ourselves off a rear or back wall in the cafeteria. So, it's a structural change. So, we're still using the same metal studs you'd see in any commercial building. How how
040and where we're attaching them change. So one was below floor, one was above ceiling. Both hidden even though we had the drawings, portions were known, portions were not known before we bid it and started building. Thank you. Thank you for the question. Thank you. And I was just going to only add obviously the age of the building doesn't help either. So it's totally common to anticipate these sorts of um construction. Yeah. And yes, thanks for the question. In my career, I worked on buildings that are 152 year old at Fort Hayes Columbus City Schools. Shout out. And you'd be amazed at what you find. I say when you peel that onion back, regardless of what the conditions or your known expertise or the drawings or what you see, there's always the risk. Unfortunately, here we
041had a higher risk maybe than normal. Uh but it's not unac unknown or unconditional in terms of the what we found. Thank you. Just to be clear again, school is opening as as planned as school is opening. Sorry if I misspoke. School is opening. We will be feeding the children healthy, nutritious meals in a safe and open environment with tables for them to sit at. I was going to say they're still able to eat at tables. They don't have to eat in the in their classrooms or anything. They will not be eating at their classroom. Will be similar to what they've done previously, correct? So, it's not going to look like a huge change for them. We just aren't making the new improved model until a few weeks. um would also point out that that
042building had the um the new entryway, the secure entryway put in, which is part of what caused the shuffling around of some of these kitchen and eating spaces. So, um part of a bigger picture there, but when it's done will make a lot more sense on how we uh function in that space. Great. Thank you. Yes, this will bring hand be in alignment with many of the other elementarymentaries including of course the other uh peers that we're renovating in terms of Whittier and Hawthorne as well. So the food service will have consistent and standardized equipment, delivery of food, delivery of services and staffing. This will bring it up to to the same level. I just feel like it needs repeated. Doug already said this, but um this is being funded with the 2019 bonds um
043and the contingency dollars that were filled into that budget at the time. Thank you so much. With that, may I have a motion to vote? Mrs. Valentine, yes. Mr. Heman, yes. Mrs. Alman, yes. Mrs. Le, yes. Um thank you. Um, we will now move into agenda item number 1106, which would authorize an agreement with Johnson Controls Fire Protection LP for the Westerville South High School Fire Alarm Renovation Project. May I have a motion to approve? So, second. Okay. So, this is for the restoration or basically the completion of the updates to the fire alarm system at South High School. Uh this time I want to be very clear. The fire alarm system is safe. The building is safe. It currently operates and will continue to operate. What this does is allows us to replace and
044upgrade what I've termed the legacy devices. U for those here and at home essentially I'm trying to find one here. The horn and strobes you see in most commercial buildings like this. Uh about a third of the horn and strobes have not been updated in that building. uh as mandated by the state of Ohio, when you do do that much renovation in a school, you have to bring systems up to current standards. So, this allows us to complete that task. Uh we're envisioning we'd be done by the end of this calendar year. We'll start uh very quickly after tonight, if approved. We've already got the contractor uh sitting nearby, if you will. Um and we would we would work up until roughly the 9th and then go to nights and weekends. So, those at home
045know we will not be working in the hallways during the school day. Again, the total amount is 445,000, but I'll repeat one more time. We're putting the new system in. So, if you walked in the building, you'd eventually see a new device next to an old device. Only when the new devices are 100% functional and tested, we make that portion live and then commence demo and removal of the legacy devices. So, there'll be no time that the systems not live and running and the building is safe. Thank you. Do we have any questions from the board? I know this has been mandated as a part of renovation. But how do these devices function differently? So the current ones are what you're probably used to. They have a I'm going to point here. They have the
046strobe and then they make a high-pitched sound. The new ones have a digital audio capability. So I'm not going to attempt it, but I am. It could say there is a fire. Please exit the building. There is a tornado. Please exit the building. It also allows us Yeah, I know. I'll call Tim up next time to do it for me. Uh that that's why uh and it also gives us a backup PA system to be honest with you. So if that went down, this is on emergency power. We could even use it to make announcements. Uh so essentially it has both a digital audio component and also a PA component built into it. Thank you. May I have a motion to vote? Mrs. Alman, yes. Mrs. Valentine, yes. Mr. woman. Yes, Mrs. Ley. Yes. Thank
047you so much. Next, we will move into board comments. Um, do any of my colleagues here want to start us off? If anyone has any board comments? Sure. I'll go first. Sure. I see you. I just want to say congratulations uh and welcome aboard to all of our uh new administrators, principles. Uh glad to have you on board. I also want to say uh our soul retiree uh good luck and are going to be missed. Um and also to all of our athletes uh again who did such a great job and showed uh how great Westerville can be. So uh thank you to that. Um the only thing I would add is what was repeated at the beginning. We kind of thought our little budget battle was over, but we were wrong and we have
048to continue uh some of these things. So, as it exists now, uh make sure that you contact your legislators and say, "Hey, don't remove these line items and don't the the unfortunate part is is until December of 26. Is that right, Nicole? That this can actually go up for appeal?" Yep. Okay. So this battle can be fought for another year yet and it wouldn't surprise us at all if they started picking these things off one by one. So uh pay attention and contact your legislators and say hey this has been decided please don't mess with this stuff. Um uh that would help us make our job a lot easier. So thank you again. On the flip side of that, I also want to recognize Governor DeWine for line iteing veto line item vetoing quite a
049few of the nasty things that were in the budget bill that would have um negatively impacted our funds and operations within public schools, not just here, but throughout the whole state of Ohio. So, I commend him for um doing the right thing and vetoing those. I wish that his colleagues would take note that he's not vetoing things just for funsies. He's vetoing them because they don't make sense for public education. And I think there are some um differing opinions for different reason out there. But we will have to stay vigilant as uh my colleague said and continue to contact our legislators both the state senators and the state uh house representatives um to make our voices known on that point. Um I also wanted to congratulate the track and field athletes. Amazing stuff. And I
050hope all of the teachers and kiddos who are on break are continuing to enjoy their break. I am sorry but it is halfway over for all of you. So, there is already back to school stuff at Meyer. Um, well, a lot of that just deserves to be repeated and amplified. Um, welcome to our administrators. We're really thrilled to have you. It is always such a joy. I mean, our young people do so many amazing things and um just our athletes are incredible. So, thanks to those also who mentor them and coach them. And um they've already mentioned the state level stuff. I just want to, you know, sort of repoint everyone's attention to the federal dollars um that were already appropriated and voted on. The funds are being withheld. So, you know, reach out and
051ask your Congress people to do their job and look into that and um assert themselves. So, thank you all so so much. Um you know, I too want to echo and uplift everything that was shared tonight. Um you know, congratulations to all the new that have joined us and thank you for choosing our district to, you know, to work here. I'm sure there are so many opportunities. So, thanks so much for deciding to make an impact here in Westerville. Um, I also want to congratulate our incredible students um in on the track and field team um and to all of our students who work so hard um that does not go unnoticed. I also just want to point our attention to the federal piece that Miss Hamburg spoke about. I think just seeing that some
052of these title fundings, you know, these aren't just numbers at the end of the day, right? These dollars make an impact to vulnerable students, to staff that deserve professional development opportunities and just so much more. And so just having to hold our breath and not know what next will look like is deeply concerning. Um, but we I will continue to monitor um that um and work with our colleagues here to ensure that we are amplifying the need um to continue to monitor um all these efforts at both at the local and at the um excuse me at the state and at the federal level. And finally um I just want to um thank you all again for being here today and to everyone who spoke. Um and with that I want to thank you all
053I guess for being here this evening. I I forgot something. Can I jump back? Yes. Uh, we didn't really get a good formal chance to acknowledge this, but I want to thank everyone on the board and especially Nicole and the superintendent for their incredibly hard work in moving this budget forward in the best interest of all Ohioans. Uh, it was a huge lift right from the get-go and they poured their heart and soul into it and the community mobilized behind them and I just want to say thank you because that is that is does not go unnoticed. I know the battle is not over but uh the war is not over but the battle was won which will take the small win. So uh I know I say that on behalf of everyone but uh
054we were short last time and I want to make sure that you were noticed for that. So Thank you so much. Next before we wrap up um I would like to um go into agenda item 13.1. Um, the board will meet in a work session on Friday, July 18th, 2025 at 8 a.m. at the Early Learning Center and in special session on Monday, July 21st at 6:00 p.m. at the Early Learning Center located at 936 Eastwind Drive, Westerville, Ohio 43081. And um, next we will move into item number 14. Um, we will adjourn. So again, thank you all so much. May I have a motion to so moved conclude? Thank you so much. Mrs. Valentine, yes. Mrs. Mr. Yes. Mrs. Yes. We are adjourned.