001session so we can get started with uh Goodright. Yes. Starcher, yes. Austin, here. Koozma, yes. Kleinhens, here. Okay, we'll move on to 2.01. Uh motion to approve the certain actually this is a consent agenda. So motion to approve the consent agenda items. So moved. New business. Second. Yes. So, you know, um when we have work sessions, a lot of times we don't do much action at all. Typically in May and August, we do just because of of staffing. And so, we went ahead and put uh some things that were, you know, timesensitive on here. And so, we went ahead and put staffing on here. And so, I'll go through some different things and also recognize some people that came this evening. I think you guys have met them at this point before the meeting. But,
002uh so, resignations. Mr. Muser, our high school principal, as we've talked about before, he is taking another job in career tech um at uh the Ashlin Holmes Career Center. Uh and so we always knew that was his passion and when he came here, you know, we were really kind of glad that we were able to get some career tech programming that we think is really helpful for our students, but um kind of anticipated might not be his uh long-term uh place just from the standpoint of his passion in career tech. I have um asked um Margaret Davis to be the high school principal. Margaret was our associate principal. We kind of had a number two principal in terms of like authority and so she was in that role last year. Um she did a great
003job. Uh I I will I will tell you I I was figuring that she would be a top candidate anyway, but it was really neat. I sent out a survey to our high school staff asking for feedback on how they felt about just qualities they were looking for in a leader and things like that. Didn't ask them any specific questions about a candidate by any means. Um and the number of ways that I got responses about definitely consider Mrs. Davis was was really um pretty neat. When we introduced her as the principal at the um staff meeting a week ago Friday, she got a standing ovation which was which pretty good. I haven't got a standing ovation ever in my life. So, you know, I was pretty impressed with that. Um, so we're really excited
004about Margaret taking over that role. Um, and u, Mr. Furlong will be coming to the high school. Um, kind of to replace as an assistant principal. So, we'll have Margaret and three assistant principles there next year, Mrs. Shaper and Mrs. Mr. Douglas who are already there. So, excited about that. Um, uh, Angela Reek is retiring. She actually was already on the agenda but uh is moving up her date as um we that impacted also Shannon Federinko which I'll talk about the STRS moving to 32 years from 33 uh for retirement uh provided an opportunity for Angela to go a little sooner. So we're happy to oblige that. Um and then Shannon our director of communications um really sad to see her go. Uh I think she does a great job of being very she's very
005professional and does a great job of uh providing content for not only our social media pages but our press releases and other things. Um she is going to retire as well and so her last uh day will be May um May 30th and so or May May 31st. So um excited for her but uh not as excited for us. Um this is also um so next week uh you'll have kind of your traditional admin um contract renewals every two to three years depending on how long they've been here they get contract renewals. This time we just put new hires or people that moved into new positions. Right. So um Gabrielle Montgomery uh we announced this a while back but she's moving to Cornerstone next year as as the principal from Keen. She was a principal
006at Keen. Um, Mr. Viso, who has kind of been doing two jobs lately with uh, cornerstone and transportation, is moving fully over to transportation, safety, and special projects next year. Um, Darren Nash has been hired as our Keen Elementary principal after uh, an exhaustive search. Darren is actually a Worcester Worcester graduate um but has lived most of his adult life in Utah um after uh college and is a school administrator out in in Utah. Um some temporary substitutes which we're always appreciative of and some regular substitute teachers. We have Olivia Clever as a new guidance counselor at the high school and Kate Weaver as an elementary guidance counselor. Um so really excited about both of them um coming to uh our district. Um Sarah Plane is moving into she has been subbing for us as
007a long-term sub. She's met 60 days. When you meet 60 days um that's when you um move into a contract sub role. Um and again some more hires here. Emily Juel who has already been a long-term sub for us at Parkview this year. uh Reginald or Reggie Hackit um is coming to us uh from Triway uh last year. Benjamin Flyn Flinter, another intervention specialist. He's actually a Worcester grad as well. Um graduated four or five years ago. You might Yeah. Uh he's pretty recent. Um and uh Rachel Jensen also just uh she just accepted today as an intervention specialist at Cornerstone. She's coming to us from Indiana but was originally from Wayne County. Um, and then we also have Katie Roth. Katie Roth has been an administrative intern for us at Cornerstone. Uh, she applied
008and interviewed at Parkview to become the principal there, and she was hired um on Friday. She accepted the job. Katie is actually here tonight. Um, so I I know that you've probably recognized her before, but we're really excited to have Katie um in the position. and she came to us from Dton last year and uh just really built great relationships there with at Cornerstone with the staff and students and so we're super excited to have her in that position and then we will we have posted her admin intern uh job there at Cornerstone. So, a lot of moving parts lately. Um I think pros and cons to that. I'm really excited for the people that we've brought in and the places that we've put people on our team. Um, at the same time, moving parts
009creates uncertainty and it's it's adjustments and so you it's a lot of adjustments for our staff and students. So, we're, you know, I'm excited to get people in place and let them start hitting the ground running. On the classified side, our resignations, uh, we have Michelle Hall and Teresa, uh, Onirk both resigning. We appreciate their time with us. Um and on the uh classified employment, we have some seasonal help over the summer, which will be great, and some substitute custodians. Um uh you know that the a couple more of this science of reading pathways just that based on um that weren't on the original list that we have to put in in order to um complete complete their payment that really is through the state. um some generals club workers, sub van drivers, um high
010school drama supplementals, and then also and Mr. Day is here with us as well. I think all of you got to meet him. Um our new athletic director, director of athletics is Joey Day. Um super excited to have Joey on board. We had a really I was actually telling Joey this when we walked in today. We had a great pool of candidates for the athletic uh director position. Um but it was very clear that Joey rose to the top. uh he comes to us with about 10 years of AD experience and also coaching experience before that. He is currently at Mary'sville as the uh athletic director uh and is moving back home. He's uh from Holmes County, so much closer to home and so um really excited for him. What's here tonight is his two-year
011contract. Uh we're working on next week he'll probably also see like an interim like days so he can work some over June and July u when is convenient. But Mary'sville has been great to us in this process and communicated a lot. And so we and and I know it's important for um you know Joey to in there well. So uh we'll we'll we'll take him all we can get him this summer but also going to have him be able to do what he needs to do to finalize there as well. So that's a lot of consent agenda. Um but it's the time of year. Uh and I guess last thing I would say is just I really thank all the people. We have lots of teachers, lots of principles, uh, you know, secretaries, pair professionals
012that, uh, custodians that actually take part in these interviews and help make these recommendations. Um, and so there's a lot of work that goes on by a lot of people to get us to this point. So, any comments? I will say that u it sounds to me like that administrative intern program is working. Yes. Yes. Yes. What a great opportunity to to you know interview and hire some of those people. I think that's wonderful. Okay. Uh Kleinhens. Yes. KMA. Yes. Austin. Yes. Starcher. Yes. Good. Right. Yes. Have them come down so we can Yeah. Yeah. You guys want to come down and officially shake their hands while you know and then you can stay for as much of the meeting or not as you want. Then you can go. Okay. [Music] Look at him with
013his shoes and his nice congratulations again. But no guess doesn't look like we have any reports. No reports this evening. We'll move on to the superintendent's regular agenda. Motion to approve the EPS operations quote for curriculum used by sixth grade at Edgewood Middle School. So moved. Second. Um, so a couple of these things that are that are on there just, you know, the sooner we can get them approved, um, the better just in terms of ordering. This is, uh, vocabulary curriculum approved by the state that we use with RIP, so our reading plans. Um, and so it's kind of a pilot from the state. And so, um, just once we get this approved, we can kind of get that ready for for sixth grade for next year. Austin, yes. Starcher, yes. Kleinhens, yes. Good rightight,
014yes. Koozma, yes. Two. Motion to approve the tech teaching strategies for early childhood quote for the curriculum used by the Littlest General's preschool. So moved. Second. First I would want to say as always a good reminder anytime we can how great our preschool is. We have a great preschool, great teachers um down there in AIDS as well. Um this is the book. This is the curriculum we currently use. It's a new edition. We might have been okay waiting for the new edition, but the state says no, you need to this is approved, so we need to use the new edition. So, um I will say what's nice about this uh we did get this at a reduced cost through um through a grant as well, but it isn't it is approved uh and it is
015again already what we use. I will make a comment um regarding preschool. I do feel that our preschool is outstanding um and you know ahead of the curve for sure. Preschool is a pickle for educators for sure. Um, as it is not mandated, but it is wonderful that we offer it. The benefits are, you know, sometimes it's hard to quantify everything, but I think there's some good data to show the benefits. And then beyond that, um, um, it's just good part of the district. It's good for families. It's good for kids to bring them in. Um, and in many many many many years of working with preschoolers going to kindergarten, a 100% of the time we know in kindergarten if children have had some preschool experience. Again, we can't always get a test to give
016us a number to tell us what we've done because they're little. But it's a good thing and I'm so happy we have the preschool program. I mean, I don't know that preschool will ever be mandated like K to 12, but it's great, important, and spectacular that we're doing it. So, kudos because it's a lot of work. It it it is a lot of work. It seems very easy. I know. But it is great. And I think, you know, I don't know if they'll ever mandate it, but it's a constant conversation. You never know, but it's I will say that the the the uh the gaps between students that have experienced preschool and those that don't coming into kindergarten I think is is becoming larger. Correct. And there you know there was a lot of data
017coming from Head Start in wow probably the 70s you know and data but this is important um and it's more important than ever. So I'm delighted this is a great curriculum and I'm so happy that we have taken the time in our district to do this. So thank you. I agree Joy. have a child there now and the growth that we've seen in him is it's just it's amazing in a four-year-old to see the types of things they can come home with and they do a wonderful job down there and it's a in demand program and that says a lot about the work that they do. Yeah. So, well, thank you. Are we voting yes now? Finance, yes. Ster. Um Austin, yes. Husma, yes. Good. Right. Yes. Okay. Moving on. Motion to approve the Gallup
018page social studies pilot for the 2526 school year in grades 5 through seven. So moved. Second. So we're in the middle of our social studies adoption. As you know, our adoptions are a two-year process, right? So they'll be coming with final recommendations probably around uh you know, next December, January. um they want to do a pilot in these grades wi with this um curriculum and you know I I you don't know for sure if it'll be the one they choose but they seem pretty excited about it but even the pilot itself is is a commitment to us and and which I think is worthwhile it's a lot cheaper than when you buy the whole thing and determine if it's really good or not so uh this is a part of our social studies adoption in
019those cases can some of those pilot materials be used? Yeah, you can you can continue to use them. A lot of times, honestly, a lot of pilots are free, you know. Um, and I mean, we did get some free resources, but for the amount that we're going to need to actually serve fifth through seventh grade students, you know, they didn't give us all of that. So, um, so the gallopade, I don't know anything about it. So, does that come from a state state approved list? Yes. like the EPS piece there. So there are, you know, in they haven't went as far in science and social studies yet in terms of like here is your 10 core curriculums that are approved and your 50 interventions. Um it meets the standards um at this point based on
020from Ohio. Um I don't know if they're going to go that far in in social studies, but they might. I mean, they have at this point in in ELA and they're moving that way in math. Um, so we just know that it meets the standards that are in Ohio. So, are we happy with the options that were given to by the approved lists? I mean, are those okay? Are they um I mean, you know, Molly would Mrs. Richard would be a better person to answer that than me. But I I would say that at first we were nervous. Um because you didn't know exactly what they would be approved and I think there was it was impossible to not be a little skeptical like how were they getting approved like is you know because there's
021there's a lot of money involved right? I mean if you get if your curriculum gets improved that approved it's it's a big benefit to your company. And so, um, I think at first we were a little nervous that there could be some influence from that. I would say that they've actually approved more than I anticipated they would. I mean, it's definitely, you know, got to be aligned with a certain type of of of teaching, right? But, um, there are a decent amount of options available. Um, and especially on the intervention side, they've approved a lot. So, I would I would say it's been better than what we initially thought when they rolled this out a couple years ago. I mean, it's still an overreach, you know, in and definitely from what we're used to in
022terms of the freedom of a district to choose, you know, their curriculum, but I would have concerns about state approved social studies curriculum. Yeah. So, is there a chance I know we're going to do this, but is there a chance that um you know with this 5 through7 that we might have a chance as a board to peruse what we're Oh, for sure. Yes. Uh I mean, we could even get you you know um copies of this, but definitely when we approve the social studies next year, we'll do the two reads and and have everything available like we typically do. I'd like to see what um is coming out. Social studies civics world. I'm following you Rick by thinking and then Gabe by thinking there's different reasons that the state would make decisions. So they
023made a decision about reading for one set of data and that was to move more towards phonics etc. But they could I think Rick you're getting at make decisions about social studies for other reasons. Yeah. Which we could inquire about I'm hearing next year like do you feel we covered all the topics that were Yeah. were things changed. Is that right Rick? Yes. So, look at you. So, like different choices and problems for different reasons is what I'm summing it up as. Um, I think the I think that if I recall the reading and the math presentations about the different tools that they tried were great. Like I really felt like when they utilized it prior to making a decision, they came back with a lot of good information. That was my memory. But I'll
024I'll support Rick that it would be good to understand what they liked. And I they were great with questions. I know because I think I asked them, you know, but like you know and they were happy to answer them and I felt that they were very enthusiastic about their choices and doing the right thing and you you you should and will we'll have the whole crew come. There's a pretty large contingency. I love those days. Really interesting. So, but yeah, Rick, I I agree. You're welcome. Thank you. Are we voting? Yes. Okay. Uh Goodwrite, yes. Yes. Austin, yes. Koosma, yes. Kleinhan, yes. Okay. Uh motion to approve the Ohio Department of Education and workforce DEW special education model policy and procedures resolution. So moved. Second. So you guys have already approved this twice. Um but
025the state keeps changing their their model policy and so we keep updating in order to ensure because we have to submit this to the state by May 30th and so it's a lot of legal jargon to say that we will adhere to the most upto-date um model policies. I mean overall very slight modifications, nothing that was really changing our significant procedures. Um but you know our Nola which helps with our policies recommended that we would consider this based on we kind of were ahead of the game initially. We approved pretty early and so then we had to again and so here we are again. I do anticipate that this will be the last one for this year. Now if they change the policies next year it you could see it again. Yeah. I'm not convinced
026why they just didn't change the model policies book and have us approve that versus the changes and the things that go with it. So anxious to get this in exactly why um so exactly why I had the questions about the social studies curriculum. It's exact same. It's right down that same vein. Yeah. Okay. Austin. Yes. KMA. Yes. Starcher. Yes. Good. Right. Yes. Klein. Yes. Um. Uh, we need a motion to approve moving into executive session for the purposes of the attached. So moved. Second. Wait, we're doing Robert Robert's rule of borders five first. I skip that. Yeah. Okay. A motion to approve to suspend Robert's rules of order. So moved. Second. Uh Goodwrite. Yes. Starcher. Yes. Austin. Yes. Koosma. Yes. Klein. Yes. Um so um kind of putting us in work session which is just
027a little more informal. We are I do have a recommendation for executive session but tip just a few things before that I can I can alert you on to next week's board meeting uh and then if anybody has anything they want to talk about or share and then if not we'll move into executive uh pretty quickly there. So obviously we'll have some personnel again but um probably less considering you guys just approved probably 50 people um for employment there. Um we we have lots of recognitions next week. So honestly um we might even want to think about um because we're gonna have several retire. It's a fun night, but it's a going to be a really packed tonight. So um first thing we you know we got the auditor state award for a clean audit.
028So they're going to come and recognize Amy. Um and we excited about that. And then we have student recognitions. Part of me wonders if maybe we even pause then and let the students leave because we might have retirees outside. I just don't know how much how much room we're going to have in here. Um we have one teacher we're going to recognize uh Natalie Skellyy that won uh outstanding educator award at SST9 which was a really great achievement and she's very well deserving. And then we have several um retirees that we're going to honor. Um not all retirees are coming by their choice. I mean, but uh some of them are, you know, already in a nice warm climate and doing other things at this point. But um you know what we do, I really
029enjoy that is every retiree, their supervisor will share share a few words with them and then Mrs. Leley's obviously got them something. So that'll take a little bit of time um and a decent amount of people. Um so that's but that's a that's a good thing. Uh we'll have our um financial reports um by Amy that we do um every month um and our go our donations. Anything specific to add on that right now? Um we we'll probably have some personnel lots of um second reading for our contracts, I'm sorry, for our policies that we did last month. Um, and then a couple uh other things on my consent agenda like some overnight trips for some sports teams over the summers that you guys always approve. And um substitute employment for the year that kind
030of says, you know, we would assume that you can sub next year. That's something that's kind of needed for for them as well uh for those substitutes. So, a lot of that kind of thing on my consent agenda. Um couple agreements with like outside providers for for specific needs of our special ed students. Then we'll have five-year forecasts um for Amy. Um and uh you know we have been what I can say is we have been working on that a lot. I mean Amy way more than me, but we've been talking about it a lot um from the standpoint of we are in a really unique time at the state level uh with uh you know our forecast and the one we're going to present is based on the current state budget which is you
031know o overall doesn't have a lot of changes from what we've experienced before. Um and so our our budget looks very healthy. Um at the same time, uh there is currently already passed in the House. Um it's right now being debated in the Senate and at some point I would assume it will go to uh conference. Uh is the current budget bill which could lead to some significant changes for school funding and would really potentially impact us a lot. Right. Um so right now the house version passed a provision on cash balance um where your cash balance uh cannot be more than 30% of your expenses and if it is uh the concept I think it's really for two reasons um I think there are some concerns from my opinion on both of them and
032I uh but I think that the um one is to try to create some property tax relief which I can definitely appreciate appreciate that. Um the challenge is it's going to be uh fast and furious, right? It it would be a oneyear type reduction and then I think it would be some yin-yang that really I think would need some good explanation that we don't think we have yet. Um the other uh piece about it would is I think you know there is you know do districts have too much money, right? I mean I think there's that view sometimes you know as I've kind of expressed to Mrs. Craig and and Will to Mr. land us, you know, um we have a healthy cash balance, but it's also because we we we try to be good
033stewards of our money so that we don't have to ask for more of it, right? Um long story short, we don't know exactly where this lands, but if the cash balance provision stays that you can't have more than 30%, we currently are about a 95% cash balance. Is that right, Amy? Um and so we could see a significant reduction um of expenditures or I'm sorry of local property taxes in the year 2026. Um you know now we're looking into that and different options that we have and and really also there's not a ton of clarity yet from um the state on some of those things but you know um I wanted you guys to be aware of I know you are but I want the public to be aware of that. At the same time
034want you to be prepared. Our forecast is not going to show all that because we did not feel it was appropriate to create a forecast based on a hypothetical bill that's only passed in one chamber. Right? I explain that all right. Yep. You did great. So, um we will see what happens there. I have uh that you know you'll the world language adoption second reading which you already saw the first time and then the only other thing I want to note is our um approval into the um OFCC CFAP program. So, we've talked about this before. Um, a couple things. Um, we were in ELP previously, uh, which is expedited local partnership, which really meant, um, if you, if you build a building, you do it all yourself and then we'll credit you and we'll
035give you the money later, right? Um, we've moved up the list to where now if we build a building, um, you know, we would get our co-unded portion right away. Um, this was already on the agenda prior to Tuesday night. It still gives us 16 months to use the co-unded amount um in any in any way as long as you do what's within their master plan. It also doesn't mean we have to do any of it, right? It just basically means if we wanted to, we could use um the CFAP for our co-unded portion for any part of the master plan. Now obviously the part of the master plan we had initially targeted was the middle school but a master plan is your entire district right so basically every building of ours is qualifies in
036our master plan uh except the high school the high school was the only thing that's a part of like because they're looking like at a 50-year period right so um whether we use it um that's really you know I think a decision for a later time um I think for right now it's just you know you just understanding that by you assigning this If we build anything within the con the confines of the master plan within 16 months we would have our co-unding. Okay. And uh um and then that should be uh about it. We'll probably have a few more personnel things on there, but nothing too major. Again, a lot of that night will be celebrating our people, which is fun. Any questions on that? I think Gabe there's um and I I won't
037go I mean we don't need to go into the details now but there are other elements of the state budget that I think it's important for the public to be aware of and I mean there is an opportunity for the public to help us be advocates with our legislation about some of the changes that they're making. I mean more money is going to the voucher program. Um even with like the state board of education they're talking about taking away any uh elected roles and them all being appointed by the governor. I mean, there there are a number of things that are happening with that budget process that I think are concerning for public education that I think it's important for um you know, the community to be aware of. And again, I think there is
038an opportunity for them to help be advocates um with our legislators about the things we're seeing. So, I think we're we'll figure out a way maybe to get some information out. Yes. Because, you know, I would love to see people be as vocal um about some of those things as maybe other things that they see going on in the district. Yeah. So yeah, it it it's a lot of moving targets with that right now. um and some and a lot of uncertainties and I mean for uh lots of districts like you know there another uncertainty not for us right now but they're also talking about changing the 20 mil floor right we're not at the 20 mil floor but if they change that that would be significantly impactful to some other districts just like this
039cash balance situation is really s you know impactful to to our district and so you know when you know you're aiming you're trying to create a a budget for a period of years you know when you're spending 60 plus million dollars a year. That can make that pretty challenging um and concerning. So, and I think I mean think and correct me if I'm wrong, but I mean I think some of the things they're they're trying to solve is is lessen the burden from homeowners, property owners on tax, but they haven't figured out the right, you know, in my mind, in my perspective only, the right way to fund public school. They're just, you know, trying to solve one thing um without solving all things. So I know all of our auditors are very engaged in
040what's happening too. And I have met Russell. He he he's been great. I think you know obviously I think the their association is expressing kind of their feelings on it as a as a as a as a group as well. Um I think it would be again um beyond just that I don't think it would be good for us as a school district long term but it will be I mean the way the way we are currently interpreting the bill it would be you know one year and then everything would go back to normal which I think could would be interesting to see how that plays out. Yeah. And I think again I'm this will be the last thing I'll say, but I think um like career tech is excluded from from that right now.
041And it's and it's kind of like why I mean if if part of the intent is about property tax, like why is career tech excluded, right? So there's there's just a lot of things that should be giving people pause, I think, um with with the current budget. Again, that's Jod's perspective. I agree with you, Jod. Um, right now there are like multiple balls in the air, so it's almost hard to comprehend anymore what's happening. But I believe, but and I may be wrong and I'm fine if I'm wrong, but I believe this takes us back to like the 90s when Ohio was sued or whatever because they were improperly funding and overrelying on property taxes. The 90s, 1990s, I think, I believe. And this has been found to be constitutional repeatedly. I mean just on
042and on and on if I may say with respect and now we're kind of like building and making decisions on the house of cards that's falling down. So it's just really quite distressing honestly is what I'm going to say as somebody who's sitting here because I value education so much for each child and for the community and society because it in fact still matters though barely anymore but that's fine but this is where it takes us. I think maybe I'm wrong. I mean Rick help me out here but I think it takes us back to somebody you know how case law goes down and somebody won and away we go and it's been shown to the d case nothing changed exactly thank you that is right that's what I would have said yeah yes but
043I will say as far as career tech goes I just think it's a matter of time before they figure out how to touch that animal it's just a matter of time I think right now it's something that they haven't quite figured out but once they do then they're going to grab that too so that would put our Yeah, vocational education, you know, at risk for kids too. Yeah, that's just a matter of time. I'm not advocating for him to add it because negative, but you know, there they have made a distinction currently. Yeah. Well, but that works within the, you know, jobs to work, you know, right now it is safe and that's good. I mean, because it's a good thing. It's an important thing. But yeah, I agree. It's just Anyway, thank you for
044all of that important conversation. Abe very much. Yes. And I attached the the reasons for that. We have a few this evening motion. Do you mean the you have here? Yes. Yes. So employment uh um property um and negotiations. Okay. So moved. Second. Klein Hens. Yes. Koozma. Yes. Starcher. Yes. Austin. Yes. Good. Right. Yes. We don't expect action. We do not. No action tonight. Thank you. Thank you all for coming. Thank you.