Yellow Springs Schools December 2025 Board of Education Meeting

001You can you can start this. >> Go ahead. It's good. >> So, we're gonna offer a few of our songs in our upcoming Christmas concert. I'd like to introduce you to some of the members of the high school choir. >> Um, some of them have been with it since seventh grade. So, this is the first This is a chestnut. This is white Christmas. Dreaming of the Christmas tree. children. Every SP you Dreaming of Christmas. Thank you. We have our Christmas concert this Monday uh December 15th at the AM church uh here in Yellow Springs. Very excited. Our concert has both um secular and sacred music in it. Um we have been playing a little Mottown this year. So this is Chain of All right. All right. Sh. I thought you were my man. Yes, I

002did. Oh baby shame every chain. Oh, but I gave you strength. Amazing. Change. of the chain all change. Ch Change. >> Our intention this year is to go to OMA for the first time as a choir. Um, so we have been working on a piece that will be a nice little beginning piece for us. Um, It is called bright morning star. Holy dwelling. stars. is our break. Father Sure. our dear brother. They are together. Hallelujah. Rising stars are rising. stars. breaking. Thank you for letting us sing for you tonight. I want to say that this is only this is only a small section of so many. So that these students came and sang that way. I am I could not be more thrilled. My heart could not be more full. So see you on Monday's

003Christmas concert and again and Karen Diamond on our piano. >> Thank you all so very much. >> Thank you students. I want to thank Diamond especially the Yellow String Singers for the wonderful performance. It's a great way to start the meeting uh in the month of December and encourage you all to go to the Christmas concert holiday concert on Monday evening. Okay, we'll go ahead and now get started. Call the meeting to order. Uh, this is the December 11th, 2025 meeting of the regular board meeting accepted school district. Could you call the role? >> Bailey >> here. >> Okay. >> Here. >> Em >> here. >> Magnus >> here. >> Otter >> here. >> We have a quorum. The next item is changes to the agenda. I'm going to ask that we have a a

004short discussion. Um we've been giving some letters and communications around the villages u decisions around CRA and thought would be good. Um I think a lot of people are confused and um so we can maybe start to a little more clear hopefully the discussion here. Uh, also there was some some online discussion about the capital campaign and I think that might be helpful to just to say a couple of words that I think the capital campaign is on the agenda. Correct. So that would be a time we can cover that. As far as the CRA J, were you going to mention me anything on that during your financial report? >> Um, we can discuss it during my section. >> Okay. So um we will just make it at a point rather than add an official

005agenda item. Is that right? >> Okay. So under the financial report, we will talk about CRA. Okay. Don't think that requires a a vote. Does are there any other changes or corrections to the agenda? Good. Uh then let's move on to the approval of the minutes. I move that we approve of the minutes. I'll second any amendments or changes corrections to amend minutes. Okay, see none. You take a vote. >> Hling, >> yes. >> Magnus, >> yes. >> Potter, >> yes. >> Bailey, >> yes. >> Bouquet, >> yes. >> Motion passes 5 to zero. >> Okay, moving on to 2.0 uh communications, presentations, and reports. The schools of action recognition. was really been serenated in anticipation of this. So, Dr. Holton, could you take it over? >> Yes, that was you. You heard the preschool

006choir and Mr. Hard um who is missing tonight with permission to do his children um here because he um suggested them and I think it was great for not only the board but the audience and the community um to be able to to hear. So, thank you Judith, did you you mentioned it with regards to communications um any other than the CRA letters? I think that that was it which we will discuss at that time. Um so let's then move to district honors and recognition. It's also a highlight of this meeting uh where we recognize the students and faculty member who have really stood out been nominated by uh their teachers their peers etc uh for doing great things. So let's let's begin with since J since Jack's not here is first and then Megan

007who will be doing the Okay, thank you. Hello. Hello. How are you? All right. Is that on? There we go. All righty. I am so excited. I am so excited to introduce young student of the month, Mr. Santiago. His teachers Nick Barlay and Mr. Smith nominated him and he's in fifth grade. And what they had to say was Santiago's voice. He focuses hard on all assignments in class with impressive responsibility and initiative for his own learning by asking questions and help for helping. He completes all of his work well and displays his strongest effort. Always his effort is evidence by the growth shown on these assessments. Santiago has a positive energy that helps our classroom feel calm and welcoming each day. Most admirably, come on everybody. Santiago consistently treats everyone with kindness and respect. He

008genuinely cares about others and works to ensure that no one has ever left out. He is a genuinely good friend to all his classmates as well as his teachers. They said, "We feel fortunate to have Santiago as the pictures. Family. Family. All righty. And now it is also my extreme pleasure to introduce our Micro Orchard employee of the month, Miss Mary Oly. So Mary, come on. Mary is a pair professional with um she works mostly with third grade students and she is a phenomenal human being and a phenomenal pair professional and she was nominated by great teacher Jenny Best. She said, "Mary is truly indispensable and our third grade team is stronger every single day. She consistently goes above and beyond for our students, showing unwary calm, patience, caring, kindness. She has built strong, positive

009relationships with every third grader and her ability to connect with students is nothing short of exceptional. Mary brings a can do attitude to every situation. She approached the challenges with optimism and team focused mindset always asking how she can help instead whatever supports situation of grace and steady calm setting the tone for those around her and helping students and staff feel ground. Her reliability her kids and her commitment to her school community make her an extraordinary asset. I am There we go. I am deeply grateful for everything she does and cannot imagine and I echo everything they said. Thank you so much. If anyone missed that online just follow what test. All right, I have the Mills Park Hotel student of the month and that is Olivia Ward nominated by John Day. Olivia, come on

010up. Mr. Day says, "Liv is a rock star in psychology. She is so enthusiastic, I'm not surprised, in class every day and makes insightful comments and asks great questions that promote learning and make class more fun. Psychology is clearly a passion and area of strong passion to endorse. Congratulations. Next up is our fine art scholar of the month, Cameron Rookie. Cameron was nominated by Mr. Brian Mayer. Mr. Mayor said that Cameron is new to Yellow Springs Middle School band this year. He has been a solid player since day one. Mr. Mayor can always count on him to carry his part in the trumpet section. He is softspoken and polite. He has been an incredible addition to the middle school band this year. Congratulations, Karen. The last award is going to Maddox Buster for the Trophy

011Sport Scholar Athlete of the Month. and Maddox was nominated by Coach Ramsey, but I do not believe that. I believe he's at practice, right? Okay. Um, but I'll go ahead and read what Coach Ramy said about Maddox. Mattis has made a major impact for our team this month, averaging 11 points and six rebounds while shooting an extremely efficient 60% from the field. He set the tone early with a 17 point performance in our season opener against South Eastern. And his leadership on and off the court continues to grow each game. He's becoming a reliable, consistent force for our team. Congratulations, Maddox. Okay. So, we have just a little recognition for one of our beloved teachers who has made decision to retire. students can speak um about Joe Franny, but I always say that in my

012seven years being here and having her as the monthlong choir teacher, this allowed me to watch her use her incredible talents to develop the incredible talents of our children. It was an amazing sight to see. I knew this day was coming but I didn't know when this day was coming. Um we are celebrating someone who has shaped this school through music for decades 21 years I believe. Is that right? Um, she's a Yellow Springs graduate parent. She was a substitute teacher, a par professional, and a music teacher. Joe Franny has spent years making sure the students of Mil Swan didn't just learn notes and sounds or just memorize lines for a play. Her students have explored cultures, history, stories from around the world. And one of my favorites is her ability to use a crosscurricular

013approach to help students see that music can connect to everything. She wants her students to feel comfortable and she wants to make sure that all of her students have a positive place in the music class. And at Mills Lawn, she has been behind so many of the moments that define Mills Lawn. School plays that have brought community together, holiday singalongs that have filled. Um, this very gym, power per powerful performances, and one of my favorites, Lift Every Voice and Sing. Um, she has unique choir concerts. You will never see a choir concert, I don't think, in any other school like you do here. And also one of my favorites, the flash moms that surprise us in special ways and sometimes even surprise the drivers at the intersection. Her deep roots in Yellow Springs and her

014commitment to her kids make her truly one of a kind. While we will miss having her at Milwan each day, we know that her impact will continue for years. So with that said, congratulations Joe Franny. Thank you for the music, the lines, the memories, and the future of our children. And on behalf of the board of education, I would like to give you your service award for 21 years of dedicated service to the service school district. We appreciate your commitment to education for believing in children. We wish you all the best. This is just the end of an era where we started the chapter every teacher and every other role I had in those schools and um 191st but the 19 my last day of my and that will mark the end of 63 years

015of Robinson's um either students or staff or faculty um in the school district. So that's kind of our >> legacy kind of a legacy and kind of a hard thing to let go of. But um I'm very proud and very humbled that you let me play with your babies for music every day and I love it. My very favorite thing is one of my kids talking to them. One of the things we have to do as music teachers in the state of Ohio is talk about music professions. So I was talking about music professions and about teaching and um said you get paid for this. We're going to rewind. Trophy Sports Scholar Athlete of the Month, Maddox Buster, was nominated by Coach Ramsay. Maddox has made a major impact for our team this month, averaging

01611 points and six rebounds while shooting 60% from the field. He sets the tone early with a 17 point performance in the season opener against South Eastern. And his leadership on and off the court continues to grow each game. He's growing, too. He's becoming a reliable, consistent force of the Yellow Springs basketball team. Maddox. Okay. This is another special recognition in Tonight's meeting serves as the last meeting for three of our board members who are concluding four years of service to the district. Board members, as your name is called, I would like to ask you to come forward to accept the token of our gratitude for your service. Your names will also be put on the historical plaque that resides in the grand conference room listing all of the Ellisburg's executive village school district board

017members. Um the assistant superintendent and the treasurer and I have actually decided we're going to split all of this. You can hear from all three of us. So um and it's in alpha order. So, board member Dorothy. So, we didn't stand here. So, get some nice pictures. Um, the role of a board member is critical to the success of any public school district. In today's highly politicized climate, holding a seat as a publicly elected board member is not easy and is often a thankless job. But as you depart the district, I want you to know that your service has been greatly appreciated. You have inherently understood the role of a board member as a policy maker and as a supporter of the work of the superintendent and treasurer in implementing those policies. You have not

018made special issues your cause, but have worked tirelessly to support the work of administration and teachers in service of the best outcomes for our students. Your legislative advocacy and support of public education in Mill Schools is well documented. Your thoughtful questioning and support of our master facilities project the past two years has contributed to the success of the project. In short, Yellow Spring Schools are better because of the part you've played in your time on the board. I wish you only the best in all of your future endeavors. Judith board members play an important role in function district. Judith has spent years serving as a council member in the village and the last four years as school worker. Her work on the facility committee is part of a team effort that devised a master facility

019project that the community backed and that we see progressing week by week. Her work and support for the project for the will be seen and felt for years to come. Judith, thank you for your service. Dr. Amy Magnus As Dr. Holden mentioned, serving on the school board presents ongoing challenges. It includes balancing your personal lives and responsibilities, community expectations, and political pressures. Throughout her term, Amy was engaged in the work and committed to fulfilling the responsibilities of the role. Her service included volunteering at Milan events, serving on the strategic planning and facilities committees, maintaining a focus on STEM opportunities, and advocating for the recognition, celebration, and support of students with diverse needs. I personally want to thank Amy for trusting me to lead and we want to thank her for her time and effort she

020dedicated to the district. We wish her well in her next chapter. It's coming. It's coming. So um I just want to add my thanks uh to three board members who have served admiraably the last four years. It is not as Dr. said an easy job and you're looking at three people who were incredibly dedicated to it put in tremendous amount of time advocated for community voices as well as student voices and I think in the list of of uh contributions that each board member has made um just scratched the surface in four years you know board member might have one big challenge like a renewual levy getting passed or building a school. Um, this board, these three members in the last few years have seen a tremendous number of challenges and have ushered the district

021forward in productive wins. uh from contract negotiations, renewal level levies and construction levy, um bringing on new and and exciting leadership uh and seeing our schools excel working with our administrative team in ways that are just really inspiring. So I can say for myself I will miss you all. Three and just for the district and and everyone who is touched by this district, families, community members, students, staff, teachers. Uh thank you for your service. Okay. Um now I'd like to move on to community comments. >> Karina get a picture of all three together. >> Yes. Yeah, we should >> and then and then the whole word if you like. So you >> Oh, yeah, we should. Why don't we do three and then we'll do a actually flowers. Okay, I think we're ready for Jerry

022comments. And just a reminder to direct your comments to the board president. president of 46 years. >> Jerry Jerry, could you Jerry, could you speak into the mic? >> The Allspring School District taxpayer has been generous in supporting the schools. Health Springs is one of eight districts of over 600 in the state that has a 2% tax. Over 60% of property taxes paid go to the school district. Pending community reinvestment tax statement issue will be presented to the village council this coming month. Approval of this tax statement only gave the opportunity to lower property taxes from Yellow Springs taxpayers taxpayers who have generously supported the district over the years. These evaded tax payment tax payments will end up in the pockets of an absency landlording loans. Why wouldn't the district speak out to advocate that

023everyone needs to pay their fair share? Failure to do so will likely have consequences when voters with voters when trying to gain support from school going forward. I'd urge the district to take a stand on this issue. >> Thank you. Okay, that's the only community comment. Uh so moving on to administrative reports. Who do we have first? >> Milong. >> All right. Thank you so much. It looks like it's loading. Um I have a really we have a really cool project going on in sixth grade and they asked me to wait until next month to present it. So be ready for this because it's pretty cool. Um, in the meantime, I kind of want to highlight um, as far as thinking boldly. We've spoken a lot about um, our writing initiatives and how we're working

024so hard on writing. And so, second grade, one of the things that they've really worked on because right now they're working on letter writing. So, to combine letter writing with, you know, our our promotion of empathy and kindness and gratitude. Uh the the second graders spent a lot of time this month learning the parts of the letter and then writing letters of thanks to local police, firefighters, um people who've come and volunteered in the school and just expressing that gratitude. So it's been really nice to focus both on those skills that we want kids to have for life and those writing skills that we want for life as well. Moving on to the next one. caring deeply. Well, as you walked in, you probably almost tripped over some of our food for our give back

025drive. Um, as board member bouquet can probably share, um, the heat is on in the sixth grade to see who wins. There's a pizza party prize, but more importantly, it's about, um, our students thinking about how grateful we are of what we have and giving back to the community. And what we gathered right now, we've got about 1,200 food items. and what we gathered will be donated to local food pantries to help with food insecurity in the area. Um, so thanks to the kids for running this campaign, thanks for student council and thank you to the community members who've been so generous. And then lastly, advocating courageously, um, I wanted to highlight our Ruby Bridges walk to school day. What an amazing day that was. It was fun and it was exciting. Um, we bought

026Miss 250 flags. is that we buy and ran out. Um, so I didn't get an exact count, but I stood at the very beginning and videoed everybody walking by and it took three and a half minutes for the crowd to come by on the sidewalk. Um, just a great way to bring awareness to our students about the power you have as a child and how important each person's voice is. So, I just really wanted to highlight that and and hopefully we can get our kids to think about how they can advocate in our own community. Thank you. >> I forget the community's name, but there was a um there was recently a woman who passed away who was part of that first class of high school students who got integrated. And um if anybody gets

027a chance to watch the documentary that was about that um it's kind of taking around and it's a it's a similar story. So I I welcome people to um to rework that story and it's >> I was also really glad to see we were talking about rewriting as being integrated more and then being an emphasis and and here it's happening. So that's really exciting. >> Okay board I I get the pleasure of giving the middle school high school report this evening. So, thinking boldly, um, our high school offers a variety of art courses, including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and art history. These courses start in middle school and progress through high school with our arts pathway ending with the AP art portfolio. I'm just going to say that for a school district our size, we

028offer a tremendous amount of fine art courses. Um these are some pieces created by our senior art portfolio and AP art portfolio students. Um and they are amazing. It's really hard to capture in a digital image. Um and I think we are so anxiously awaiting the opening of our new facility where we can really showcase this art because it's it's spectacular. um caring deeply. On Thursday, December 4th, one week ago today, we hosted our villages senior citizens for our 45th annual senior lunchon. Students in our middle school high school choir performed for our guest and led a short sing along. National Honor Society students served a delicious lunch prepared by the nutrition group. That's always a nice event. Um it was a little break during co but we are now back at it and it's

029an event that everyone looks forward to. And finally advocating courageously. We have many students who are accomplishing great things. This is true for academics, athletics and the arts. Uh please come support our students and they represent our school and the community with pride. We hope that our village seniors take advantage of our complimentary passes um to our athletic events. You can use your pass in the board office. Um and our students purchase spirits church to get them into all home basketball games. We have an upcoming choir concert on December 15th as Miss Fair now mentioned at the AM church. Um, our higher educational theater association play, The Diary of Anne Frank, will be held January 15th through 17th and many basketball and short games and bowling matches through midFebruary. Please come out and cheer on

030our Thank you. So, a lot of great things happening and a lot of great things for the holidays. >> Can I ask a quick question? >> Yes. When are the uh tickets on going to be available to play? >> You know, I have to get an answer for you. Generally, a couple weeks. I would say maybe the beginning of January when we return back. >> I was just going to say that I've heard the senior attending the senior lunch. you could and um was hoping that more people would come next year. There were about 35 less people being thinking about attending it. So I hope that >> yes seniors could get free tickets to the basketball. It's the first first year we've done to all of our home athletic events. Um so we'll give you

031we have a little card in the office. You just show your license that you're residents. >> Yes. Good thing to get out there. >> Absolutely. >> Good. Okay. We have a a PTO December report in the minutes. We'll just then move on to the green county report and the report incoming mayor Steve. >> All right. Hello everyone. My name is Steve McQueen. Few hats in this town. But right now I'm coming before you as the board member for Green County representative for springs >> with a great jacket. I have to say that thank you very much. Um so uh you have a report for December. I just wanted to bring it to your attention. There was even an article and I left the link for the article there. Um but long story short is that

032we need to expand our culinary arts program pathway. Uh it's doing so well that it's uh in almost like tied with how many people we have to turn away. The the top two were always uh culinary arts and uh cosmetology. And so um the reason we're focusing on culinary arts is because you'll notice it says here we have had at least 35 programs. Uh that could be easily tripled. Um but we don't have the space to uh for larger groups because we would need a cafeteria. And so if we were to have a space in which we be able to allow our culinary students to be able to constantly be able to host all of the different events that are asked. Uh we'd be able to um it' be a great as like it'd be

033great for our students uh but it would also be great for our school as well. And so that's why we want to focus on culinary arts. And so the article is sort of saying we want to do this. Uh we definitely still plan to do this. just like a meeting or two more week. I can definitely say that this is going to happen with what I can confidently say this is absolutely um the projection for excited about it. I also just wanted to mention that Governor DeWine did visit uh the career center and spoker. be really excited about that mainly because he has been talking a lot about career center and wanting to do it and so uh we invited him and so of all the career centers he went to he decided to go

034to this one I'm pretty sure that he's from the area but he absolutely loved it and he said then we're hoping to see more legislation about that. Um but a focus um for career career tech as they just called it because there's different types of career centers that kind of thing that you'd like for our department of education to have some more focus than it has had in the past uh or career attack. And then I also just left with you have services. People who would like to their nails are done in it. People who would like to uh experience what we get to experience when you have nice wheel by students. Um if you're having issues with your car, uh we do have services for you. Um, when it comes to things like cars,

035um, that's going to be a little bit longer, but you can come in and get your kitchen the whole night. Uh, you can also instead enjoy a really amazing meal. Um, everything that you see done, it's called the green room. So, how how it's decorated, um, all of your service that is all done by the students. And so we would love for you to come and see just what these students are learning, especially if you have students who are interested in wanting to attend. Uh please come on out. Uh any questions? >> Okay, I do have a question. So your report mentions a question in one of the links that you said, but I want to make sure you get a chance to say it out loud. >> Okay. How is the extension of >>

036like we're paying for it? We don't need a lot. That's what you're going >> I just want to make sure that they have because as people think about school and I wanted to make sure, >> you know, I should have thought of that, but we're so we had to reach out to >> to start asking more people for I know because things are already rough. Um, no, this is um, yeah, we are able to just based off Yeah, just based off of what we were able to do uh, with the new building and what we thought it would cost. This situation would really be a part of an okay, we still have the money to do these kind of things. So yes, there will be no levy as for by the degree county careers in

037any way. >> And like you said, you're you're kind of in the final planning stage. When do you think you'll be >> not the final planning stage? Smart is just really happy to announce that we absolutely want to go forward. >> Okay. So early planning stage. >> Yeah, still early planning stages. Yes. Uh there are no plans now as much as we know we really want to do this like we can now we are now happy to announce that we'll be able to accept more culinary students. It says 40 there but it's looking more like 4260 and that's all depending on how we can get teachers and things like that. But um yeah, it's it's definitely going forward it will really happen. So we're not saying but no there's there is I'm thrilled by this

038direction because this area this region has a long history of startups within food services and culinary. I mean when I first arrived um somebody um but they folks were saying that um that uh that there were more restaurants per capita in this area than anybody else in the country. Now that may not still be true but still the number of startups of food businesses in this area is quite large. Making this investment is not only great for um people's you know livelihood but it's also great for the region too because it supports the entrepreneurship in here. >> Absolutely. Awesome. >> One last question. So if someone listening to the board meeting I would say hey I want to go get a haircut or have a meal at Green County Career Center. Did they just get

039online? >> Correct. Online you can schedule anything you need right in there and it has all the information cost and like any questions you would have. Click on that link. I purposely put it in your report just in case it was difficult for people to find it right to that page. >> Great. Thank you. >> Absolutely. Thank you very much. and the next bit. So we'll Steve, I think you I don't know you can keep standing there because we are going to appoint a board representative to the Green County Career Center from this district. And Stephen McQueen has served how many years? >> Seven years. and with his many hats as he has mentioned, he is still able to wear this one and has shown yes shown a willingness to and has served the district

040very well both as a former board member but also as a long-term board representative to the Green County Career Center. And so can I have a motion? Oh, yes you can. I recommend that we that the board appointed the Green County Career Center. Second. Okay. Is there any discussion? Well, let's take a vote. >> Magnus, >> yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. >> So, thanks again, Steve. I mean, we know that you're you're going out there and you're reporting back to us. is your time and your and your I don't know your dedication and enthusiasm for the Queen Career Center has always been there. So, thank you. >> Thank you so much. Um, okay. So, how are you all doing? Can we plow through the break? >> Okay, I'm going to go ahead

041with the district master facilities update. Dr. >> Thank you. Um, I have uploaded into the document the December uh construction report. Um I would like to just allow you to peruse that on your own and I would like to show you some real projects. So you have the other document please. I was unable to go on the walk through last week because I was um at a conference so I missed some things but this is pretty impressive. So I I'm just going to um have Sarah roll through. So these first two images are of our new vestibule right here in those lawn and then you can see down the primary hallway. Ceilings are in, walls are painted. This is a classroom. These are cubbies. Um again a wall you'll see will go up and the

042smartboard will go up and then some storage. This is all here at Mlon. You can see the new windows. Um this is a looks like a water fountain um yet to be installed. Again, another view of the primary hallway. This is the hallway that is interior in the new office area. So, you're looking down from the main um office area where the admin assistants will sit. Down through the hallway and to your left would be the principal's office, counselor's office. Again, a classroom with a sink. This is the new front walkway. And there is a new dedicated entrance to the conference room. Both look very nice >> and it's accessible. >> It is accessible. That is correct. Again, you see drywall up. This is again the office hallway. This is stuff right there. The nurses,

043this is the clinic. >> So, uh the doorway you see is to a restroom. But yeah, it's it's a beautiful space. Um, these three sinks are the washing station outside the kitchen for students to wash up before they eat. Again, another view down that hallway. Um, this is a partial picture of the boiler room. Um, I hesitate to show pictures because there's a lot of new piping in these rooms, but it's beautiful. Again, an aerial image. Hard to see on the screen, but it shows up on the on the agenda. >> New roof. >> Yep. New roof. And that's Mill's lawn. Here is the middle school high school. And you notice this is the new gymnasium. All the scaffolding is down, which is amazing. The windows are in. That is would be the entrance, what

044we will call the athletic entrance into the new gym. a view of two two views of the new gymnasium and you'll see a lot of things in it. It is the biggest space where we can store doors and things like that on all of our construction equipment. That is the opening to um concessions. Again, this is part of the new mechanical room. Um, if you've ever been down to the boiler room um, in the tower, the current boiler room, I'm just going to tell you there is no comparison between that and this. Such such sophistication in equipment. It's pretty amazing. >> And that means that the gym will have AC, >> correct? The gym will have AC. Again, some more views of that room. It's it's huge. the auditorium. >> I'm sorry. >> Um, again,

045these are just some rooms kind of along that that back side of 2000 2002 area. This picture um is the kitchen. And I want you to note how big this is. And so, if you see that kind of silver door, that is the walk-in and freezer. And the size of the walk-in and the freezer is almost bigger than our kitchen was pretty amazing. >> So that kitchen is the size of my house. >> But what it means for us is that we'll be able to make many not just >> Yes. And we will be able to right now we have events like we have our senior scholars dinner that we go down the road to center for and we could do this in house in a very nice space. So um that will be good.

046This is part of the commons area that will separate the middle school um the 58 wing from the 912 building. The ceilings gone up from that on that part of the building. Again, these are just all different um vantage points of that same space. Again, another hallway in the back. We're just they are moving along. um some aerial views and you can really kind of see um so you see the this is the where the steel is not up on the other side and you can see the old tower that will come down and then that kind of hexagonal piece is the comments roof and then that is a bigger aerial And then this is one of my favorites. Just a nice evening setting of the work in progress. And then the view of the

047parking lot, which is nice. That's going to be nice when it's finally complete. And then the building you see on the left. So just some um photos of the progress. It seems like even from one two week walk through to the next, it is just amazing to me the amount of work that gets done. We are preparing for a move here in this building around Martin Luther King weekend and that will be the primary hallway will be occupied. um this hallway will be occupied um as we then make ways you know basically it's a it's a you know JA puzzle well thanks for sharing your pictures because I mean uh it is remarkable how quickly it's all developing I had a couple questions about the light uh because I know on construction committee we talked

048about the light in those bills on halls and it's how's it what's the verdict? How's it look? >> If it was very bright, you wouldn't you don't feel the length in the darkness of before. >> Those lights are soft, not bright, but it's really nice. It doesn't feel like >> I think between the lighting and just in the windows just so you just feel good in those rooms >> and even on the cold days when we're visiting and knowing that the uh heating hasn't been turned on yet, you could feel that it wasn't. you could feel that it could retain heat and not have the draft that you feel before >> and that is because we're we're also on track to be a legal building and so the next question I had was about the

049gymnasium and in terms of size. >> Yes. H how do you say that? >> I think you mean is it is it too big? Is it houses? >> Well, it feels big, but I think that's the nature. You know, it it's it's been kind of um a circular path. It's too This doesn't feel big enough. Oh my gosh, this is huge. Oh, this doesn't feel big enough. I think each time they put, you know, they put the windows in, they put the rafters in, they So, it changes, but um it feels nice, honestly. feels adequate. It feels like so we're in our mind is graduation because that's the goal of graduation there. So it's just like this is going to be nice and graduation ceremonition and that's good to hear about it feels adequate because

050I know in the early stages it was downsized a bit from that original um original plan. So it's good to hear that that is still working fine. >> So you'd be surprised but the number of parents that went the um the pad it's too small right >> and then the walls went up like it's too small and then the roof went up like it's too big the optimal illusion of that space and I think it will be like that until you have the bleachers and the seats and the hoops and everything and then it will But I can tell you that it feels bigger than the one that that exists right now, which is a good thing, right? We had players that are that have been running into walls or slowing down to play and

051we don't want that. And and honestly because I know the same similarly parents were concerned that when we um well there was just a lot of discussion about the optimal size for the gymnasium and we leaned on our the expertise of our architect and and you made it a bit smaller than that earlier design and it seems like it's going to work. So I'm glad to hear it. I I know that there's going to be business when people start to start working that because it's just oriented west just from the fact it's oriented you know eastw. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So now we're moving to the second part of this uh section and that is to approve the guaranteed maximum price for the district master facilities improvement project for Mills Lawn School. >> We're

052going to do >> or the and the middle school high school. We'll do the middle school high school GMP first. GMP number nine. Um why it has that number is that these build on each other consecutively. And uh when we get to these numbers nine and 10, I think we're approaching the end of the GMP. Correct? >> This is the end of the GMP heading just change orders. We have the um early second package 22 our main package and Fordology I miss but uh technology package and then now this is the furniture package and then >> which a GP is a guaranteed maximum price correct >> and so this means that the price for these things will not go above this amount it's going to be a guaranteed amount so This is also a way

053for us to see that we're on track financially, right? That there's not going to be any kind of big overrun and so that we've gotten to the end of this process and we've been on track. I know things can still >> never say that, but >> yes, things can still happen, but um it is a good sign that we're we're approaching the end and we're we're steering the ship and within the the rocks of going over. Um so the board had a chance to look at these and so is there a motion 3.2 So that be >> okay. Is there any discussion, questions? >> Yes. >> Baby, >> yes. >> Magnus, >> yes. >> Motion passes five to zero. >> So that's for furniture improvements for the middle school high school. We're voting on similar

054GMP GMP 10 for Mills Lawn School. Is there a motion? >> I move that we approve. >> Second. Any questions or discussions? >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Motion passes five to zero. So this is a this is a thing to celebrate you all. We we are on track. Okay. And Dr. your report. Okay. Thank you. Um I have two updates tonight. I'm going to start with capital campaign and I've included this document but I think it's important and as a question was raised from the board I would like to read this to grace um last week the district officially launched its capital campaign invest today inspired tomorrow legacy in coordination with the annual day giving on Tuesday December 2nd 2025. This launch represents over a year and a half of thoughtful planning. I would like

055to address some of the questions that have surfaced and offer clear information about the purpose and needs for this campaign. Since 2017, before my arrival, there have been ongoing efforts to pass a bond issue to address the district's aging facilities. When I joined the district in 2019, I inherited a facilities committee formed after a failed bond attempt in 2018. An additional bond attempt in 2021 was also unsuccessful, leading to the formation of another facilities committee. Finally, in November 2023, the community approved a $55 million master facilities project. The approved ballot issue supported a phase 2 building project through the Ohio facilities construction commission's health program which provides a 27% credit upon project completion. In the 18 months leading to the ballot issue, we worked closely with our community to consider whether to move toward a

056single K12 building typically co-unded by the UFC or preserve two campuses. Some community members and board members strongly supported maintaining two buildings to both preserve Mills line as a school and protect the Mills line green space. The OFCC ultimately agreed to a phase approach and that is the plan we owners because the approved plan does not involve a single K12 building. All mills expenses except as remediation must be paid for locally through locally funded initiatives often referred to as LFIS. Mills lawn renovation has always been understood as a partial renovation due to the substantial cost of a full overhaul. For two years, we have anticipated the likelihood of additional university expenses. Renovating a 73y old building naturally brings unexpected needs, which has certainly been the case. Some examples of this totaling over $63,000 include, and

057I might emphasize some examples, this is not an exhaustive list, fire alarms and smoke detectors, relocating the main equipment room, resurfacing asphalt, replacing main entry concrete, cooling tower expansion tank, library classroom panels, electrical phasing work, front concrete patio, addressing the deteriorating concret planning process, roof drain discrepancy resolution, electric temporary power, temporary heat, and much more. The Mills project also, in addition to the $63,000, requires modular units at an additional cost of $1.2 million. Despite these added costs, the district has approached this work with strong fiscal responsibility. We have been able to cover necessary change orders and cost overruns within the construction budget and through interest earnings. However, using these funds for these essential items means they are no longer available for other LFIS important items the state does not reimburse but that our community strongly

058values. For example, throughout my seven years in the district, most theatrical performances have been held off site at Beria, the John Legend Theater, the Foundry Theater, the First Presbyterian Church, and Wilbur Force University, often at an added cost. One performance, Peter Pan, took place in the high school gym where the audience sat on bleachers for the entire show. The OCC co-unds only the stage, not auditorium seating, and a functional monitor theater is a priority for both our schools and our community. These needs come with considerable cost. Retractable auditorium seating for 347 seats is over $400,000 and a full theatrical system including reading, lighting, and audio is over $800,000. These expenses are LFIS and require support through the capital campaign. The need for a capital campaign has been an ongoing conversation in the district and with

059the board of education. Decisions related to the campaign have been discussed during our bi-weekly core construction team meetings held since April 2024 and attended by two board members. Capital campaign funds will support items like retractable auditorium seating, theater reading, lighting and audio, high school gymnasium video scoreboard, high school wall of fame electronic board, expanded memorial garden at the middle school high school, Mills playground, Mills stage curtain, Mills gym audio package, mills outdoor learning area and outdoor LED signs of each building. We have one opportunity to build this project in a way that truly reflects our district's values and our community's expectations. And that opportunity is now. Our campaign goal is approximately $2 million. The total value of naming opportunities exceeds that amount intentionally, allowing more individuals to participate at a level meaningful to them. Not

060all naming opportunities would be fulfilled. The campaign will conclude after 12 months or once we reach our goal. Any remaining funds will support future facility upkeep and capital improvements. None of these funds will be used for operating expenses or student experiences. Fundraising will not reduce the taxpayer share of the project. Taxpayer relief will come from the 27% OFCC health credit and refinancing opportunity which was discussed at several board meetings prior to the November 2023 validation. Board policy 7250 commemoration and naming of school facilities outlines the requirements for naming rights all of which must be approved by the board of education and must align with our district values. The policy clearly states, quote, "The board retains final decision making authority at all times for the naming and working in and boarded facilities." Our district is committed

061to balancing donor recognition with honoring individuals who have meaningfully served our schools and community. For example, Edin Kenny will be recognized in the middle school hallway in acknowledgement of the former McKini Middle School and longtime staff member John will be honored through the naming of the court in the gymnasium. The gym court was chosen to honor Mr. because it is a highly visible space that reflects his lasting influence. Any community member made their name to support these recognitions. In recent years, we have all seen how social media can amplify misinformation and create unnecessary division locally and nationally. While we do not typically respond directly to social media posts, we believe it is important to address concerns in a public transparent manner. Social media provides a forum for conversations without accountability and unfortunately inaccurate information can

062and does spread rapidly. Some community members have expressed concerns on social media as I have received not a single phone call or email about this about the size of our capital campaign request. In the past 23 years and perhaps longer, the district has only run one small capital campaign or $140,000 for track reser. It may also be reassuring to know that our capital campaign is closely modeled after a successful campaign run by a beloved Yellow Springs nonprofit organization. Other local nonprofits also regularly conduct capital campaigns. Our approach is consistent with these community organizations. Our approach reflects common practice and our approach is tied to a specific event. Our master facilities project. I want to close with this. No one is required to give to this or any other capital campaign. People choose to give for

063many reasons. Because they wish to honor someone. Because they feel grateful and want to share that gratitude. because the schools have profoundly shaped their family or simply because generosity is part of their values. Our goal is to provide meaningful opportunities for those who wish to contribute to this once in a lifetime project. With this capital campaign, we are creating vibrant, inspiring spaces where our students can think boldly, create fearlessly, and grow deeply. We invite you to join us in shaping the next chapter of your school. >> Thank you. >> You wanted to make comments or have a discussion on this issue? Yeah, you know, so there's probably a few models in which to approach um this and uh so you know, I've been reading through some of the comments that you know and some of

064the conversations that we started on this around the community is that you know when it comes to you know making rights let's look at that issue specifically is that um there's amount of money associated with making rights for specific parts of the facility And um one thing that often happens. So when uh when shortly after in the 199 19 well actually in the early 1960s when we lost President Kennedy um is that a capital campaign was organized through several organizations and community members to name the library. I don't know how many people know this after former president after the president. So we um our community library is named after John um Kim and I like people to look at that model and think you know that these naming rights is that they're valued um people

065in this who served this school district and we can look to you look out to organizations and to community members to say this is a person who's loved or revered in this community and we'd love to make a portion of these rights be you know in support of that of of maybe this person and so these can be collective actions not just looking at single donors who will step up and and and uh and participate in this capital campaign. This capital campaign has opportunities for everyone. um and a and you know any group of people can contribute to um to uh to participate in that and I know that the elders community foundation would love to talk to anybody um my apologies if I'm getting but um you know I'm sure that they would love

066to talk to anybody who loves organized you know one particular actor you know to a portion of this program for a specific person. So I invite people in the community to you know is to look at what we've done in the past you know like the JFK um bill you know the JK library and and to think about you know this is an opportunity to do something similar and uh and I you know pledge to this uh school district and to make sure you take on this responsibility of heading this capital campaign. Um, I pledge being one of those people to actually, you know, take take the lead on on on keeping and raising these funds. Uh I that's absolutely something I want to do because you know this is one thing that I talk

067about is that you know there's multiple ways of you know of raising the funds beyond tax biography is that one of the things I talk about during my campaign while sitting on this board capital campaign is is uh is is worthy and now that we've we've made this big investment. I'm telling you, there's there's so much to be excited about and there's so much to be grateful for of what we've been able to accomplish with the state support and with the community support and we this is a great opportunity. We'll have other opportunities to improve the facility. They're going to come up with it in the coming in the coming decades, but this is prime time to like um get people excited about the changes that are taking shape here. >> Thank you. >> There

068any other comments, questions? >> Hi. >> Or how do we agree with this? >> I just I want to thank anybody who does um want to opportunity and participate in this capital. Personally, I think this is an easy ask to make because there's so much to brag about this school district and um about what we put together here and there's so much great work to be done and you know just thinking about what we can do to support the arts here. But one of the things I think backed my senior year is they gave up on orchestra in my school and I'm so proud of the fact that we supported specials in this facility. So incredibly proud but standing up theater and we you know I when I first mentioned theater I was like let's

069keep the keep ourselves to reasonable ambitions and talk about 99 seats. We're talking about over 300 seats. this is a great opportunity but a wonderful facility in this community for theater. So um you know this is an easy ask for me to make for the community and I think that we'll find other people in the community find it in the same way. >> Yes. I would just like to thank Dr. are holding for a detailed kind of history. Uh, and would also echo what Amy Magnus said that since I started on this board, questions and opportunities and suggestions about funding parts of this project through the capital campaign had always been discussed. uh this is the first time maybe officially by the board all five of us in this way but it is uh certainly

070something that's been discussed in the conversations associated with uh the construction and of of these facilities and I think if that communication can get out to the people on social media who perhaps did not realized, for example, that the school board does in the end approve any naming of any building or or or part of the school. That's direct access to your elected officials. And uh the board has has been supportive of the administration in both the quiet and uh you and open phases of this campaign. It's being run efficiently and effectively. They have solicited expert advice. Uh this is being done in a very professional and successful way. uh so we can all rest assured that there will be any chance of discussion. If there are any objections to any part of this campaign,

071uh to reach out to your schoolboard members, um that's the way to do it. um if at any time you find an issue. But let's face it, schools just like so many nonprofits uh require support of all kinds from community members. And when those community members who have the means and the generosity to support the schools uh stand up and do so and it's great benefit to the entire community. Uh, and it is something as I've often heard in this town, we we need to celebrate the things that we actually do right and do well and we see great results from and having a top of the notch theater, having a a great space for our students, having a great gym, uh, all of these things, having Milan school preserved in the way that we

072just saw are are things that that community members are supporting and there's a lot to love about this. I need the um oh I forget what it's called right now said design space you having proper space to actually work on the technical um the backstage looks really required theater I mean these these are these are opportunities not just for growth and learning but they're they're potential career opportunities too there's a lot of um you know events uh um execute on >> right and so we can >> that's that's a that's actually a major industry concern >> right so so just uh wish success for the capital campaign please reach out as Dr. I won't said reach out with any questions. Get the right information. Uh realize that you have an opportunity to talk about this

073with school board members, newly elected members, current members, and uh we are going to see some amazing results uh when this project is finished. Okay, are we ready then to move on? 4 to 4.2 the updates need policy to action. >> Yes. And I will not read this. Look, I just want to say board thank you. Um it is with the board's approval that we join the league of innovative schools in 2021. And um I think now that we're four years in that is really starting to transform our networking, our kind of identity of where we fit in with the local state and you know national landscape. Um last Monday and Tuesday I was in Washington DC with the lead of schools and about a hundred other superintendent from across the country members of the

074week. And so we spent Monday afternoon kind of with some I want to say lobbyists but those who attend education policy in DC and we prepared for meetings the next day on the hill. So we geographically with the Ohio group um and actually there are several league members close to us. So be creative schools Springfield City. So I was with those superintendents and and the um executive director of the corruption designs in Columbus. And so meetings were planned I guess with representatives and senators who um were available or their staff was available. So, the Ohio contingent met with two, met with Representative Mike Taylor, who's actually our southern district, a large district south. Um, and then uh staff from Senator Houston's office. And I'm going to say I went in with very low expectations. Um,

075but I I must admit that those staff members listen to us, listen to our concerns and um, you know, it gets us done. And so our concerns were with the elephant in the room, the dismantling of the US Department of Education and um, responsibilities being cast out other cabinet departments. Where are the guard rails for protecting students? who are in the guard grants for um making sure that we are providing opportunity for all who are in the guard grants that say all of this block or categorical funding in terms of titles title one title two IDA that that is distributed appropriately and monitored appropriately and then um we had a specific ask and that was Ohio has moved more towards workforce development you know it because the name of the department has changed. So if

076that's the case, you know, I I won't fight that, but give schools the tools and the funding to really be able to innovate locally because the needs of Yellow Springs and we address this specifically with the staff needs of Yellow Springs are far different from the needs of being creek and far different from the needs of Spring Lake City. We have some similarities, but we are different in many ways. And so we need the ability to innovate um without having to apply for a waiver through the Ohio Department of Education Workforce once a year or jumping suits. Um but we we found it here and um will it go anywhere? I don't know. But this is something that um the media is committed to and if you think back about all of the legislative advocacy

077we've done as a board, I think it is our job to really do that and fight for our students and quite honestly fight for public education. >> Thank you. Okay. Now moving to 5.1. This is approving the second reading of revised board policies 2460.04 and 2460.03. >> So move that we approve the second. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> Okay. has a second reading. We discussed these at our previous meeting. Uh so there any >> I just have a question. Have we got any communications from families about this? I know that it's pretty. It's about the evaluations. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Magnus. >> Yes. >> Honor. >> Yes. David. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 5 to zero. >> Okay. Moving to 5.2. Another second reading in this case that transportation policies. >>

078Second. >> Any questions or discussions? And again to say that these are all recommendations that go through that are aligning with state laws etc. >> Yes. Yes. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. Item zero. >> Okay. Moving on to consent calendar. Adoption of consent calendar number item number six. I'll move that we open the discretion discussion. >> Okay. This was uh for the assistant superintendent other duties as assigned. So um this was Megan's first taken drafting through the through the calendar committee drafting a calendar for next year but very tricky very tricky given that we are trying to finish a construction project. So, um, this is the calendar and we're required to have two reads on it. Um, so if you have any questions, I'm happy to answer, but I know she's having answers

079as well. >> I attended the I attended the second calendar meeting that I had. But what I can say to the families is that they won't see much difference on the calendar. School still starts on the third week of August. It still ends before Memorial Day weekend. We still have a week off of Thanksgiving, two weeks off of the winter holidays and a week off late March. What is different is that students will be off school for two extra days in October for the final move of some classes. So now I want to also talk about the teachers experience of that. They are the ones that are going to be adjusting their practices here. are going to have to adjust their usual rhythm to and in how they go back to work and I appreciate

080their flexibility as they will have less prep time in their classrooms before coming back to school and overcoming weekends. I'm just wanting to point this out to the families so that they can extend grace and gratefulness for those transition times that are made easy on families and less easy on the teachers. I I appreciate you saying that and and I also want to say publicly um we've asked a lot of students in terms of moving um this year and again you know next year but we've asked so much of our staff. You'll see later on in the agenda um in the personal schedules um moving expenses come up again because I think some teachers are on maybe their fourth move and um they they have been amazing and I think everyone sees the the light

081at the end of the tunnel but sometimes it's still difficult getting there. So, thank you for recognizing. >> Yeah, the community seen a lot of, you know, on the outside and I, you know, I think that it might help to get a little bit um into, you know, what is happening on the inside challenges are there's opportunities for the community support. There's anything that can be done um from community volunteers helpful because this is going to be this is going to be a draw. >> So also talking in our agenda planning meeting, it was a priority to start in August so that the school year would go past Memorial Day and you managed to do that now. But I think just for again clarification, what time range this still means that that move in mil

082for mills will happen during the school year. Correct. Yes. If you look at the calendar, there are two days October 16th and October 19th that are shaded gray. Those would be um the days that we would take advantage of to move any of the staff members and their classrooms from what we would consider phase one and phase two into the completed phase three. Okay, good. Just so that parents are aware of that. However, middle school high school, it's planning that they'll start in the new building. At least fingers crossed, knock on any wood you find, etc. Okay, good. I know that's Juggalina love moving parts. This transition is never easy. So, thank you. Do you anticipate like during open house before school starts next year kind of like getting an idea about you know where

083students are in the year that's going to be like I know that we're getting down to just the current module that we I'm just wondering if you have thought about using opportunities like house more about >> I would say that there will be lots of communication way prior to open house over the summer um in the spring to make sure that families are aware of um locations for classrooms for the Mills students. And and I think I would say that where we end this school year um will pretty much be I mean where we start the next school year for 26 27 and then in October where the two days we have gray out then everybody would be kind of in their permanent location. >> Thanks. So So the end of the school year, we're

084going to be moved out the classrooms are going to be moved out of the monitor. That that is correct >> because um because uh the students that are moving into Nelson, those are the older elementary students, the 42 grades, the thing in sixth graders are moving. They're going to start the next year at the site, right? So that shuffling is right. So, so actually currently the plan is in January that fifth and sixth grade will actually move out to the modular units. We are trying to keep all of kindergarten, first, second, and third, fourth in the building. And then yes, the fifth and sixth grade teachers and those classrooms will start at the middle school in the fall. >> Okay. Okay. So this morning yes of course construction will be done for that part. Great.

085Okay. Uh so let's take a vote on consent calendar for administrative >> Magnus. >> Yes. >> Potter. >> Yes. >> Bailey. Yes. >> Uh, >> yes. >> He >> motion passes five to zero. >> So, moving to number seven, the financial consent calendar. Do I have a motion to open? >> I move that we have a second. Okay, J. >> Okay. Yeah. I refuse to use the microphone anymore. Anytime I touch it, I'm electric. So, you should turn off. >> Okay. Yeah. Um, so, uh, just the the one item tonight, the financial report for October. Um Steve McQueen talked about how he wore a lot of hats and uh that's why this picture uh Halloween collection of us at the board office but uh also this is my in small school districts a lot of

086administrators and teachers and everybody here wear a lot of hats. Were there any specific questions on the finance report today sent out earlier this week? I'm just gonna reiterate the same question so that you can't answer them the same way that you have noticed uh that um purchase services but there is a a growing gap between what is budgeted and what is actually and I remember your strategy right your strategy is to be very conservative with what you budget so that you have an early signal that uh we're reaching u new heights in our spending and so the question that I ask you is to expl explain one visit purchase services that $100. >> Yeah. So, um, if you go to just the second page, yep, right there. Um, you'll see that line for purchase

087services. Part of this is just, you know, um, spreading the budget throughout the year. And purchase services a lot of times I I take that whole number and I divide it evenly by 12, which is not the the most accurate way of doing it. And we do have months that tend to be higher. months tend to be lower at the beginning of the school year does tend to have more purchase services because we have contracts that last all year. Um but then looking at and then our largest purchase service every month. So I did dive into this because I saw the same thing that that did um that purchase services are particularly over but it is it's a relatively small budget point which makes it very sensitive to change. Um we have a very large

088monthly purchase service which is our contract with the ESC that is our of the 100,000 that we budget is like 75% of our budget for the month goes to the ESC for purchase services occupational therapy physical therapy speech mental health services preschool. So it covers that that is our largest purchase service every month. Um and then last year um just another line item that or the same line item that we saw um the over budget we we had our um remediation and um a couple other extraordinary expenses that that you know you don't really budget for. Um and then HVAC was was the other one. Um, looking at where we're at in in October, um, there was no significant increase to any line items on our purchase service. What I recall significant, but we just

089had several line items. HVAC was one. Um, >> so does it have to do with >> the HVAC that had to do with the closure? Sorry. When you mention Hback, does it have to do with the school closure that we have? Yeah, different. Um, so, um, so we had a couple Hback repairers, we had some legal bills, and this is something that, um, and we adjust our budget just typically just twice throughout the year, um, maybe a couple other appropriation adjustments, but as far as significantly adjusting our budget beginning of the year and then mid year. So, as we prepare our February forecast, it's probably our next budget update. Um right now with construction the other significant increase that we're seeing in purchase services are utilities, electric and water. They are running a lot of

090power equipment and we pay for that. And then water. >> Yes. Um both the new brick and the old brick. Um if you were on the construction floors that I noticed one day, this was after I got a water bill and I was like, "Oh my gosh, this is extraordinary for us. This is like 10 times your usual water bill." Um, so I talked to to Jeff who who our facility sky and uh he said, "Oh, that's because of the brick right now." And then sure enough, the next time I was on one of those construction tours, you could just see water pouring down the side of the brick, but that is part of the process. So the utilities are related that that was another one that several line items again nothing significant these line

091items were you know for the month four to $11,000 and none of them were over 10 or none of them were over $11,000 but just you know when that line item is only$125,000 a month you have multiple line items where you five $10,000 expenses. >> So just to follow I also know that revenues are also higher. Do you expect that to even out or >> um your thoughts? >> So that was the the biggest one was was income tax for the month of October. Um we are just again you know we we estimate conservatively on income tax. So um and then there's certain income tax four collections a year. The largest is always in July October and um October and January tend to be the two smallest ones and then another semi in April. October

092we had a crazy one last year which is a refiling and then um so just adjusted back down to where we had seen October in the past and it did come in higher. Um but then we are using those funds to make our debt payments for the project costs that are coming out of the general fund. term. And then that income tax being higher has been fortunate because as we've discussed, there's been a lot of questions. We using a decrease in state funding due to the um the leveling off and using the old numbers in the funding formula, the fair school funding, plan. So with a lot of the uncertainty, it's good to see some of these tax. Also in terms of our um the investments um where we have >> interest earnings are is

093it standard to maybe move to the to reduce risk as you get closer to the end of the project or >> um so the project we have we have three different borrowings. We had our initial $15 million notes. to them as early as possible because you are allowed to keep all the interest. There is no arbitrage. Arbitrage is a rule that basically keeps governments from or governmental entities from borrowing money to make money on interest. Um borrowers charge doesn't apply to the first 15 million that you borrow. So that's why we did our $15 million note. Um and that is the investment that we will hold on to the wall and then the one that we sent out first was our um our bond and then you do based on you know which one has

094the worst best interest rate. Yeah. Yeah, you one that has a better interest rate. >> We keep the longest. >> No, we we actually keep the higher one. That's why we we sent out the bond first interest. Um, so as we go through the project, we've emptied out the the bond first and then we'll empty out the comps and then we'll close up the project emptying the um the note and that allows us to keep as much interest as possible. Um, interest has been good a little better than we originally anticipated which is why this one Um, one of like the actual Yeah. percentages. Yes. And some of that is just timing on when investments mature. Um so we also worked with our investment firm Red Tree and they and our construction manager if they

095they gave us a draw down schedule so that our investors are able to invest accordingly on when we will be funding because you know you can't have it locked up in something that's not going to mature for another three months and we can make that money next month. So, um, working with them, they've done an excellent job. Um, and then we will not know until the end of the project, um, exactly how much money we're allowed to keep. So, this is this is one thing for board members to know just when you get to the end of the project, there there very well should be money sitting in the project fund. um that's not ours to necessarily keep because of all the trust. So you have to wait until you get to a point and

096you calculate your arbitrage and you may have to pay some of that money back. So when we get to the end of the project and you look at the the balance, you go, "Oh my gosh, we've got money left over." That may not necessarily be our money to keep. That's that's something to keep in mind. One of the reason we don't spend that to zero dollars is we have to make sure that we arbitrage. Thank you for going into that because I was wondering what the timing was like, you know, we needed to resolve what we were answer attorney do for arbitrage. He's given me an estimate on how much interest, you know, some of it we know. I mean, at this point, a lot, you know, all he knows all that information. So, we're

097just looking at the next 10 months, 11 months, >> right? >> And then so, but he they also understand how arbitrage works. So he uh he gives me an estimate on how much interest he makes and how much >> right you know this is kind of like the one opportunity that this community has gotten an opportunity to see sorry um but this is because we don't do projects like this often of this scale is that we're getting lessons in how the financing works. So I appreciate your patience and the explaining this. You know, I I'm looking forward to, you know, point where you're educating the public on the full of rebate when it comes back because I imagine there'll be some timing issues on that too. That's not we have to go into depth now,

098but I'm sure, you know, maybe this time next year, we're going to be talking about applying for the release of those funds. But I mean you won't get so so after the project is complete there's an 11 month period where you have to see that you got what you paid for. So unlike um you know when you sign your housing unit it's it's sort of done. Um there's an 11-month period following the end of the construction project for us to find any issues that may have gone unnoticed in the initial inspection. So um or or things um you know that are just hard to test necessarily depending on when the completion of the project is. Um they do 11 months because you know that allows you to go through it every season. So um project

099is finished in, you know, the buildings were moving in in October. Uh, well, the rainy season is February, March, April. And so, you know, your roofs may not get a real test until the spring stores, >> right? H >> your HVAC system will be in heating in October probably. So, you may not get a real test on >> air conditioning. >> Yes. So there's you know when you move it there's still 11 months until it's really complete. >> Um and then you start >> about two years from now. >> Um and then we'll rec Yeah. So we'll reconcile with OFCC at that time that we know that all these furniture and everything works as it should. Um, we reconcile the BCC, request our funds, and then it usually takes um, I want to say now

100they've gotten it down. It used to be years, but right now the average is like 18 months from the time you ask for your money and they reconcile with you until you get the money. Um so it was about seven years from the start or from passage to completion to when we would get the money from the OCC the estimate was about seven years. We did time our borrowings um when our re first refinancing window is based on that. So we are hoping that the OFCC money comes in at in that same window that is our first refinancing opportunity. Now just because the refinancing opportunity will be available then we'll have an option. It also depends on what are interest rates you know three or four years >> if you yeah if you don't want

101to refinance if interest rates are higher than when you borrow. So, um, just because you have a window doesn't mean that your refinance window happens. But we did time it so that when the 27% comes back in from the state, um, that that will be timed with when we are allowed to refinance. Okay. Um, and that is really when you know our best opportunity. Um and then um for for providing community relief for this project, it is a large ask if needed to help that expedited local partnership program. The community puts all the money up front and the state reimbures you on the back end. That's you know that >> I know >> that school projects they got funding up front particular programs that they were involved in >> yes project um I honestly I

102don't know what that the actual facilities normally a higher percent of wealth in the community. Yeah, I think there, you know, I've seen numbers at some of the projects where like it's distortion. >> We we do have, you know, there are some fortunate cases um being on an EL project compared to a Cap project where that you have more control over your project. On a CFAP project, that means the construction manager is being paid by both the district and the state at the same time. So you have to do exactly what the state wants always whereas you have a little bit more flexibility to do it how you want as a district that the state's just going to reimburse you at the end. So this is experience negotiating with the state of >> right we

103can this is bringing us back to those conversations and it's good to have them now because I think what it puts uh in timeline is just as Jay was saying in that time when the OCC uh reimburses the district for that 27% that would be a time that hopefully interest rates are also cooperative to invest this vest and bring down the amount we owe which would mean that we would need to collect less money from the taxpayer. Uh and that is I know what uh this this board at the board at the time of that passing of of that levy had had committed to. So it's good to see that we're on track. >> Yes. >> Now I wanted to now turn to the CRA discussion. >> Yeah. Um, real quick, I know that there

104was a tiff discussion before that the tiff that the village approved, they carved out the school. So, the school was not hard in any way. They will receive 100% of the money on one of the the 10 agreements they did. Um, CRAAS uh are a a tool to get investors to um community reinvestment area tax abatement. Um, and it's a way to encourage um investors and construction for improvements and in a specific area. Um, this specific CRA I know is for a property owned by Antioch permit and Antioch is a nonprofit as well. So, um, right now the schools are getting zero tax dollars on that property because it is a non- taxable entity. So, um, right now they are doing a 75% CRA. This is one of the reasons that the school district doesn't

105have to be brought to the table. If ACRA is for 100% the school district anything less than 100% um local municipalities have the authority to to do that on their own. Um so this becoming a property that would have taxes collected on it um is a benefit because you know um 100% of zero is >> zero. So 25% of anything >> is more than zero. Um this does how this affects taxpayers is if uh it would um it does not count I did look into this does not count as new construction because it's an existing parcel. So it it's not growth on our substitute money. Um, but I've talked about how as taxpayers, you know, everybody pays their piece of the pie. >> And if you get a new taxpayer, so if your neighbor knocks

106down your house, builds a new house, and doubles their value, their taxes go up. Your piece of the pie gets smaller. >> So pie stays the same. the pie >> the size of the pie stays the same >> your piece of the pie is smaller as there are more taxpayers >> the the reason I I don't think we should get it discussion I think in fact we should keep it extremely short the reason I wanted to bring up the CRA tonight is um well um one of our former teachers has a letter in the paper that's coming into the paper tomorrow and it it seems to I think she and then she's also called a long conversation. Um and then I also talked to Brian how she's on the council and is you know was

107is part of the council that's making this decision. Um I I personally think there's probably a lot of people in the village that really don't understand this and so so the the implications for the schools which is going to be in this letter that is the question that's being raised and so um on Monday night the school village council is going to be making a decision on this CRA um for what's the name to put the Windsor the Windsor project they're over there Um, so I guess mainly what I uh what Brian suggested because it may come up as a question to the board is that the new school board um might want to have somebody from the council come and explain, you know, their thoughts on how the CRA will be used to encourage

108certain kinds of development in the village. um you know the reinvestment in this instance there's an old building that's coming down that needs to come down um and will be replaced by this apartment building. So anyway, I just think it's important um that the school district kind of understand what questions are likely to arise on this and and try to everybody who lives here to pay attention to the conversation at the village and to become a part of it if you want to go to meetings whatever and so that we're not there seems to be a lot of confusion. Um, and so that's the main thing is that it would probably be a good idea to uh be better informed as school leadership as to how this all was going to work because this is

109likely not to be the last CRA request and so um and just to make sure that you know it's protecting the best interest of important entities like the school district and in the foreseeable future. I I appreciate that because I think that's um wise advice and I guess what I would say to this board as you exit the incoming board is that I think an understanding um of CRA um for everyone involved is is critical. Um I just feel like in the past few years the schools have been used as pawns um in in a housing individual and and I'm sorry. >> Yes. I think that lots of folks have used the schools as pawns in in a housing debate um in the village and I think any of the schools have lost because we've

110been we've been used and so I I was a bit concerned with our community comment tonight and the letter you referenced is attached as communications um on our agenda and it is in today's paper I read the paper so um but I I highly concerned when I hear if the schools don't speak out about this, we're not going to vote for another le and again this is again here we are caught in the middle of something that didn't create. So I think it's it really would be imperative for the for the new board to really understand this and then if you want to make a statement about it that that really is your um but I think before we get there it's critical to understand this um and and what the impact is not only

111to the schools but to the entire what's the impact the loss to the entire community. >> Yeah. And I'd just like to say that I was also asked by a member of council um to make the point at this at the December 15th meeting that uh Jay made, I said, well, I would ask you all and only after the treasurer had confirmed what you did confirm and that is that you have a pot of money, it remains the same size. So if you have a levy that generates a million dollars of income, that's what it's going to generate. Uh where the difference is between zero, 25% or 75% of of of what um or 100% of what the new neighbor would pay is really impacting taxpayers uh and how much they would how much they

112would pay in terms of property tax. Um, is is that correct? Because they also at the last um council meeting, I only saw that on tape, there did seem to be some confusion that somehow this CRA would mean that schools would get less money overall and that is incorrect. >> Yeah. Um, so, you know, I'm not going to give my opinion on, you know, why the village. I would just say that CRAAS are very common. They're very common in the state of Ohio in particular. Um it is to encourage investment in properties that otherwise developers may not consider doing. Um so it is relief to a developer. So and to encourage some sort of investment in the property that may not happen without it. So, you know, for in this for property in particular right

113now, they're paying zero taxes. So, if you're paying if somebody builds something there and starts paying taxes, that is that is larger than zero. So, >> but that would not change what the schools did. >> But what the schools did, you're right. Our levies are designed on fixed sums. So, um it would affect the 200 mil floor. We we are on a 20 mil floor and so everybody pays the same rate. So we will see growth on our 200 mil floor but um we will not see growth on our um permanent improvement or our bond issue um or our substitute. Substitutes are changing to the 20 mil floor and we will probably be taken off the 20 mil floor. So again, it's not going to be a gain or a loss for the school um

114depending upon what the village does. Now there is an exception to this and that if this is a residential property and there are more residents, we do stand to gain income tax because everybody who is a resident of the school district pays income taxes. So, anything that brings in more residents to our school district would um brings in more income taxes. >> Well, thing I would say though, Rebecca is that not every CRA agreement is necessarily a good thing for schools. So, I think it depends. This one is I from what I understand with this one it seems to be that um the schools are going to be fine but it depends but there is in the letter that was in the newspaper talks about situations to Ohio which was a different kind of situation

115so I don't think we can make any blanket statements about >> right so what I'm what I'm hearing from this conversation is that this is useful information that um council members have you reached out to to ask um I've been asked for that information and we now can refer to our treasurer's overview and uh in the future with the new board uh there should be a conversation as per our superintendent's recommendation between council members and the board so we understand CRAAS uh more fully and hopefully can get that messaging out to community members so that they understand their intricacies to debate uh some of the the different cases >> and I think that you know both the township and the village you know one of the things the is that developeration is you know you

116can you know everybody make sure that everybody kind of knows you when the next asks are going to come in and that's I'm assuming that those discussions that you're going to start you have with the new board in February. So, you know, when you're talking about the fiveyear plan because you know it's it's it's you know the fiveyear plan the school that we're talking about 10 years. So, you know, that's that's the time the new board's going to get educated on about when, you know, school might need to ask for additional funds to to make sure that, >> right? Yeah, we we we saw those in the issues in the forecast last time. So, uh looking at time uh in that way, is there any more discussion or can we take a vote on the

117consent calendar? Thank you. >> Yes. Okay. >> Yes. >> Okay. We're going to take a five minute uh break and then finish up this minute meeting split. Okay, we'll start with that. Okay, so we will rejourn and move to the next item uh for the personnel calendar item number eight. Is there a motion to open? >> Second. Is there a second? I'd actually like to make a motion to remove one of these. >> Let's do the motion. >> I'll second and then >> you just have to ask. Okay. >> It's not a motion to pull things out for them to remove from the person that will be that will have a vote. Oh, somebody's >> I see. Okay. Um, so we have a motion to remove schedule G for a sep separate vote from the

118consent calendar. >> A request. >> Sorry, I got >> that work. >> Yeah, she's pulling it out. >> Okay. So, >> for a specific purpose. So, >> okay. Then it will then we'll close his consent calendar and vote on it separately. >> We'll vote on G separately. >> Okay. Um any objections? >> So right now we're voting on BEF. >> We're voting on BEF. Um and we will discuss those items and it'll be a separate motion for schedule. Okay. Uh any discussion >> haven't missed anything and any discussion? Okay. Let's take vote. And this is for schedules B and F. >> Bailey, >> yes. >> Bouquet, >> yes. >> Hley, >> yes. >> Motion passes back to zero. >> Do I have a motion to approve personnel schedule schedule G? >> Yes. >> Is there

119a second? >> Okay. Any discussions? Discussions, questions. Okay. Uh then >> yes Bailey >> yes >> Magnus >> yes >> motion passes 4 to zero >> okay so that's an approval of uh personnel thank you for serving the district and let's move on to number nine board communications and other items so I can start 9.1 Yellow Springs Development operation. So I went to the December meeting and of course the main focus of of conversation was this the potential purchase of what we all know as the springs hardware store and there was a variety of of uh issues discussed as the due diligence is is being done on that building. all of the, you know, checking the wiring, the piping in the structures and getting an estimate on what kind of repair costs would be, etc.

120If they go with any purchase of of any building of that sort, and that will take a good month. And just to reiterate, the All Springs Development Corporation has not purchased the building. Um, this is still kind of in the due diligence stage and there were a number of of tasks that needed to be done and the um the members of the development corporation didvied up those tasks. Lisa Ael with the departure of Magic Leatherman will step in as an interim director of the Yellow Springs Development Corporation. That's a role she has held previously and she will hold that role for six months. >> That's about it. Anyone has any questions? >> Oh, yeah. I do. It's not related to the hardware store. It's just my request for looking to board is to attach the

121minutes to this. I believe that's the way some but it would be good I think just for communication to school board. >> Yeah, they they they come out um you know like a month later but yeah that's a good idea. In fact, I can go back to my emails and attach the minutes that I have from previous meetings. >> Okay. 9.2. >> Yes. Um so the the um safe story that whole thing we talked about well I talked about the idea of doing something to bring attention to you know the practice and what it entails by having some tableing downtown. So I had said December or January then I realized December is not a good month. January might be too cold. So I'm just going to pass on to the next board that if they

122want to do something like that, I think it would be of benefit to everybody um and the chief employer, you know, participating in this. So it will take off. >> Thank you. >> 9.3 active transportation. >> Yeah, sure. Um so the uh the village really supported the village in applying for a dot developmental assistance. That means that we would be applying to get consulting head consulting help in renewing the active transportation plan. That document helps makes us elleible for um future grants. This can be we can talk about millions of dollars. from the last one the village uh with the help of a committee got over $5 million of grants. So this is this is the next step we applied to this uh consulting grant on December 1st. We're crossing our fingers that we will

123get it. The next grant will be from the safe route to school and that is due in March. that will be about half a million dollar uh for schools would greatly benefit from that because it would help support payment for the in cycle which is a requirement for the uh certification of location that we get to open the buildings. The next uh active transportation meeting is scheduled for January 21st after the board's reorganizational meetings and also after the council's organizational meeting so that we have those new members uh that are appointed to active transportation. On Monday I've been asked to give a statement or presentation to the village council about the importance of the active transportation. So I'm preparing to come to the council. Um the goal is to um uh convince them to appoint

124someone that is dedicated to active transportation of the council and to explain the relevance of it. And then I wanted to speak about a last item um kind of a success partnership story between the high school and the senior center. high school. Um, thanks to principal Jack Hadard um has um found 23 students that have stepped up to help with snow removal for pay or for community service hours. Those names both those names have been sent to the uh senior center and so should folks need help clearing their driveways or sidewalks from snow, they should contact Maggie Teen at the senior center to coordinate next steps. That's that's a wonderful thing and I encourage all seniors to take advantage of it and thanks to other kinds of seniors, high school seniors for doing that work.

125Seniors and >> seniors need seniors that could actually services. >> Okay. Legislative report. A lot to report there. >> I missed it. I'm going to try to keep it to what is like the most pressing topic. So there are several bills that the Ohio legislature have sent out for Governor Dwine signatures specifically on the uh property taxes. Those bills are HD 129, 186, 309 and 335. Um as of now he has not Governor DeWine has not signed them yet and he has until December 20th to do that. We need the ask uh there as a recap is that those bills are limiting the state's funding of public education under the claim that they would lower the property taxes, but what they would do actually is shift more of the financial burden of public education onto

126local taxers like us. So, this is not going to lower our property tax bill. It's just going to lower how much the state invests in property education. So uh we should contact governor dewine and tell him to veto those bills because they're not providing uh tax relief and uh in you and then you don't know how those bills combined with each other. So there's a lot of financial uncertainty for all public schools in Ohio and I know that this board have communicated this to legislators. Um we've done it multiple times. Yeah, multiple ways. Uh, superintendent Holden has done that last week and the bill too. Uh, so taxpayers should still reach out to governor's office to ask him to veto those bills and ask for other property tax relief solutions that have been successful in

127other states without compromising the funding of public education. There is another topic and I'm really going to turn to for about a month. It's the N. Um, so the um Ohio High School Athletic Association recently um passed a rule that Ohio athletes now can benefit from what they call NIL name, image, and likeness. So they can earn money based on their name, image or likeness. Um, there are a lot of rules that come along with it. Um, Ohio is the 45th state to adopt these rules. So we are kind of I guess behind the curve of the rest of the country and allowing students to profit. Um I don't anticipate that our district will see um much of this activity. Um but it's something to just kind of keep an eye on. There um is

128a representative Adam Bird u did announce that he's going to introduce legislation um proposing to ban it. So, um, while the Ohio Association has approved it, um, I think it might change later. So, >> thank you. Oh, and there was just one more bill that I wanted to bring up. Um, HB597, which would make schools no drone zones. I don't know what what our position on that, but no drones zones, >> privacy. Uh so there are definitely privacy questions here in mind but we have Nelson that is an eagle of the village. So how do we enforce that? Good question. And also when we think about it you know we could use drones for to promote our bike bus program. How do we do this? So lots of questions. I wanted to just bring that

129one uh up to the attention to everybody. So HP 597. Thank you. >> Okay. just encourage Governor Deine to veto those bills and encourage all of you to reach out to the governor and also emphasize the importance of school funding. That's HP 129, 186, 335, and 309. Okay. Next is resolution denouncing harmful immigration policies. I will make the motion on that one since I wrote it. I move that we open the discussion for a resolution denouncing harmful immigration policies. >> Sorry, you to open the discussion. No, you move that we >> approve. And Amy seconds. >> So that's okay. Just going to give a context for that. Um, so I think that we've all seen in the news that we're living in a world where some students and their families are afraid of coming to

130school across America. And it's a good time to remind everyone that every child has the right to a free public education with safety and dignity, no matter their nationality or their parents' nationality. Um, I'm thankful for the Tulo public school board for sharing the language of their policy and that's what I use to write out and I'm asking for support in approving this policy. >> Any other discussion? I think it very much aligns with our values. Thank you very much for bringing it back toward and I you know as a rural district I think it's really important to you know to take this position in support of our schools I you know have Norwegian heritage and my greatgrandfather and his wife um to live and just you know there's this this, you know, supporting English

131as a second language, um, you know, schools is a really important issue for districts such as, um, Dayton public schools and this is a really pressing issue for them um, you know, as programs like that challenged. So I this is an important resolution not just for our residents who um immigrants but also for our sisters. >> Thank you. >> Okay, we take a vote. >> Okay. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 5. >> So 9.6 That one um appoint for January organizational meeting. All right. Got some choices. >> Yeah. Yeah. I I was going to say uh I I suppose there's nothing that says you can't do one of the new board members, but they're not here yet or sworn in. So, >> Right. And it's a very brief time. >> It's a very brief time.

132It is until we elect the president. >> So, >> um I it would be between you and >> present. I Okay. Uh Potter. Yes, >> Bailey. >> Yes, >> bouquet. >> Yes, >> Pimpling. >> Yes, >> Magnus. >> Yes. >> Motion passes five to zero. >> Okay, that was easy. And other board member announcements. >> So, I thought we were going to discuss when we section. >> Yes, we discussed that but it did not get. So we can still put in that we can still discuss it. >> Yes. >> Um so I I only limited myself to the three talk sessions that I attended thanks to the text tax that were used for my registrations. Um so here is something interesting that is on the horizon that I think will play really well for Yellow

133Springs should hurdles be overcome and that's the tax credit scholarship. So that's uh the one gem that is in the one big beautiful bill. It was originally written to promote school vouchers, but at the very last minute there was language that was included to allow a tax credit to serve public schools. So granted, some books are jumped through and they're not out of partace, taxpayers would be able to redirect $1,700 of their federal tax taxes to fund educational programs such as our full-time preschool program. So we could take $1,700 that would go to the federal government and keep them intense for our own uh preschool program. So if you think about it, this was used as a kind of a school voucher system, but this can be used for public schools too. Uh this would

134be at no additional cost to taxpayers. Um this could be particularly appealing to taxpayers who don't want their tax dollars to be used to fund military actions around the world or ICE ICE actions in the country. And this would be a way to keep uh our federal tax dollars local. Facebook start in 2027. So there are a few things that need to be happening in the meantime. I've communicated all of those things to uh our administrators and at the same time if those hurdles are they'll communicate that to the board. Uh the second session that I attended was about the summer food service program. So last summer, a public school district in Ohio was the first school district to successfully use the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Program to provide free meals shipped to

135any child under age 18 in the school district of the summer school break. So that was a way to uh bridge the gap in access to food. They ended up serving 35% of their student population. I send the presentation and my notes to our administrators. Um I have to say we might actually not have enough students that qualify for free and reduce price to be eligible. So there will be some uh some investigation to do but we actually might be too wealthy to qualify for that. And then the last uh session that I attended was the advocacy A through Z uh school board members as powerful voices for change that was presented by Anna Chapman who is a member of board of education. She gave a fantastic presentation on what board members can do to

136advocate for public education for their district to the community and to the elected officials in the state or federal level. Um and I was very glad um that Amy B was able to attend it. Christy Myers was able to attend it too and came right to Derford. They were in attendance with me. So I know that they've seen a great inquiry presentation on what they can do as board members to advocate for public education program. Did you have anything to add? >> Um, so I sat in as mentioned on two of the lectures that she talked about, so I won't mention those. Um, I also was able to um sit and listen to some interesting information on AI and how we can use that to communicate with the community. um especially regarding some of the

137financial uh and legislative um things that are coming down the pipeline. Um I also sat in on a great um interactive lecture regarding uh superintendent and board relationship uh building. Um so with the new board coming on as well as a new superintendent starting that was um there was some good information in that uh session as well. Um and then I made some good connections with office for education um which is um a group that Dr. Pas had some good connections with. So, um it was nice to have some of the new board members attending as well. We did some 15 building activities, too. So, I also attended as a delegate. Uh so it was good to see that the resolution that the group was put forward passed and uh other good good changes to

138OSPA policy pass. There was quite a discussion um about some legislative proposed policies that reflect many of the debates we have now in our state uh government and in districts across the state about um about diversity, equity, and inclusion legislation or policy changes that reflected both sides of that debate. Uh those issues did not pass. However, uh they were also more quickly brought to the OSBAs was my understanding and it was a discussion I think among us uh how we may as a district wish to partner particularly with this Toledo school district whose values are in line with ours in bringing something back to the OSBA. We rec recognizing that this is a state with diverse political opinions. My sense was that that arc is bending towards justice and and that we may see some

139some traction and at least it would make and be worth our effort to continue uh to keep that at the forefront. The need for language that is truly inclusive in OSBA policies. I also attended a great um session on getting solar panels established on the building and I'll be hoping to work on that uh more diligently in uh the next coming year and also attended a session on on leadership and advocacy. So it was always my second conference, second year on the board and >> yeah, >> met a lot of new people. Actually met some people I met the previous year which was kind of fun. Um but and I also have to shout out to Kim Rifle who took us all to Jack in the in the evening and we had had a great

140time and yeah, Columbus is a fun city. John was a highlight. Oh, the arts integrated learning that he's become part of that was just amazing. So, um here's some of the things that uh I kind of participated in. Um, one is that you I really recommend especially board members is the student there. Um, because I think it's a wonderful opportunity to listen to the students about things that they are excited about. Um, I talked with the debate team folks in the volunteers. I thought that was you know that's another service that I love to participate in. And the uh another one was creating music. So folks who are getting uh experience with you know building podcasts. Uh and I think that yellows is going to be a good place for you know um with the

141uh radio station and uh the new facilities that are um the additional facilities that are part of that. that would be really interesting to look at. So the student union is usually held on the second day on the Monday and it's only morning session. So that's a great time the uh and so many opportunities to see that I actually she found really interesting. Um one of the things uh so there was a discussion on creating safe and supportive schools uh in Kings local. They had a funny story actually about how well tragedy story about >> just a message that is >> Oh okay okay sorry. So um well you know we all had a chance to talk about recently um let me just say quickly that um uh that the they really advocated especially for

142a small district like this is knowing where where centers of information are in case of emergency. that one of the cases that they had is a deer crashed through the window and uh at one of their schools and just you know as the community finds four minutes uh 10 minutes 20 minutes is a long time when it comes to information getting out um in emergency and it's good for everybody um uh along all you know the information change in the school to know that contingency plans if uh if the principal isn't in in the building at that time, who is the person who's in charge, that type of thing. So, very great information about, you know, you know, any time of emergency, you know, having a set plan and contingency plans about who's going to

143who's going to be the source of information. kind of like in those first precursor moments, you know, controlling flow of information, knowing who's going to provide solid sources of information. So, um so people are well informed about what's happening in in emergency. Um a couple of other things that student contentment might sat in on um schoolbased health centers. So, you know, with the refresh of the student clinic, it'll be interesting to see what additional services um can be provided through school. School is actually a very important um provider of a source of um health and wellness for our our students and families. And so, that was a very interesting discussion led by Shelby City and uh other academics. So, I'm sure there's other ways to do that. Also there was a really interesting session on

144designing an autistics autism school um which involved actually providing you there's what the services that are provided school program that's we talked about few years ago about providing life um skills for autism spectrum and uh one of the things that They that they did in this one school district is they have a house where they actually teach um students about cooking and making beds and uh and how you know brushing teeth and things like that. But these you know that these are um life life skills that are implemented not in a school setting but in home school setting. So that's um and it was a really interesting session um in talking about the diversity of of services that are needed within their own community and other disabled folks within the communities and some innovative they

145actually have a program that's paying for itself right now is really exciting. So um that's those are the things that I found really exciting at the um at the conference and uh and and really encourage future school board members to attend the session because there's a lot of innovation and exciting initiatives that are are discussed. Thanks. Uh, so is there a motion to adjourn? >> Judith moves. Dorothy seconds. All those in favor say I. >> All those returned at 9:27. Right. The G