001the meeting agenda. >> Second. All in favor? I I um so and I also want to thank everybody who's here. This is just a first of this year policy committee. Ashley Zimmer is on this committee but was unable to attend due to a last minute uh conflict and I was asked to come and so here I am >> and so that would be um our welcome and uh welcome everybody and look forward to getting this committee started. Um >> can we get introductions? >> Yeah, we can do introductions. Julie, where are you these days? >> I work over at campus. >> And Kim, >> I also >> Okay, Susan. >> Wow. All right. I don't know if I'll be able to hear them. >> All right. You know, Kathy and I are board members. >>
002Can you say something so I can see if the closed caption is picking it up down there? >> Yes, I can say something. I can talk about how policy BCB I guess that's a situation for the board president who to substitute on the street. >> That's working. >> All right. >> Thank you. Um for the purpose of the committee. So printed out a couple things and one was the uh board policy for committee which is I just mentioned and um we know that these committees are established through action of the board and um the committees can make recommendation for board action but not act for the board unless specifically authorized and that would have to be with a vote through the regular board of education. Um the appointments are made by the president and do
003not extend past the year and u to dissolve a committee you have to have a vote major to go to the board and we follow the opening actual reporting meeting for that also I don't know if this is skipping ahead but um this uh there's a resolution there of the policy committee that was passed I believe back um January 18, 2023. There are a couple blanks on that resolution and I think policy committee should make some recommendations to the board on that issue and it says that um the policy the board sets the policies and the administration executes the policies. That's what our policy bylaws say. And um the board uh was in was the committee was established to ensure compliance with law and to recommend policies to the board. And I also noted as
004I said that there was incomplete language. So we may want to revisit that clarity some three which is committee procedures and expectations. Um when that was passed in January of 2023 pri organizational meeting I'm guessing did that serve did that committee actually serve it >> it what I understand that that committee did meet um then >> yeah we had one meeting >> okay that that's I wanted to start >> wait no >> you were on the committee then >> we had one in 24. >> It met in 23, but it only met maybe once or twice. I can't remember how many times. I'd have to go back and look. And then uh Mr. Christian was appointed in 24 and it met once in 24. And that was um I believe it was Seth B. >>
005Yeah. >> Was it or Libby? >> Thank you. >> Yes. Um then >> this one will be different. Any other any other questions about that? Sorry, I should have asked because this is really kind of an open format. I think we really want input from that's another thing our policy says that staff the community everybody should have input on the policy and students you know like get that student policy. I would hope that you know the committee I won't typically be here but I would hope that they would invite some student We'll reach out to Kyra and to make sure they have >> she said there was a meeting today. She just didn't know what >> Yeah, we did. This one is not well planned. It's our first one. So, we're just kind of setting
006goals. I I would I made a note here, Kathy, that I recommend for the board if you will agree that I would recommend to work through all policies by year end and review or introduce new policies from the board and >> well I think that would be covered under five establishing board priorities >> according to your agenda here. So number three, procedures and expectations is I guess the goal here would be to create a structure so um we know what's going on, right? Um to keep the committee effective. I would propose a simple structure and maybe this is part of the chime in on this. This is just my take on um policies to come here before going to the board. Um, then the committee would prioritize legally required updates first, which I found some
007on OSA and I I have those here. Um, to distinguish policy and administrative procedures because they're both two different things. Um, all recommendations that the committee has would go to the full board for action and whenever policies are brought before the board, we should, I believe, The committee should recommend that um they require red line revisions of any policy change so the board can clearly see what changes there were going to be and there is some confusion at the last meeting with one of the policies in fact it was the wrong policy that was in there with red line so we're working on that and that I think would be very important for the committee what do you think John >> I am written all that down. Looks neater. >> Okay. And then what else?
008Structured policy review cycle. Oh, there you go. That's what I had down here. Rather than trying to review everything all at once. Um, for example, maybe we would require legal updates as they arise because those are important. DA when we get on um board docs just so everybody knows there's a few I think they call it and it has every it's a newsletter they give to all of the does the public have access to that >> it's it's on the ODA site access yeah so it gives you legislative updates on policies that have to change and usually they're those are all legal requirements and then they sometimes have recommendations on other things that may not be with the requirement, but um those updates have timelines and everything on it. Have you found it helpful? >>
009Absolutely. >> Yeah. Because it clearly says this is a required policy and then there's also sometimes even a required policy there's some leeway and there's some decisions at the board. That's where we can we can go over it. We give our recommendations at the committee. Um usually practice like this when they in really in recognizing the the time, the attention, the effort has put in, they usually accept the recommendation quite commonly recommendation. >> Yeah, I find it really I wasn't sure if it's open to everybody. I'm glad you're here to fill us in on that. Um there's also key policy reviews annually. Um so there are certain policies that require the board to do certain actions. So those in my opinion that would be like our key policies, right? We're required to do something for
010oversight purposes. To me, that would be a key thing we need to look at and and consistently be following through on that. Can I interject a question? Have you all seen the proposed policy regarding >> No. that was on the last um board in the first three agenda. >> Yeah, that was Yeah. And that >> just just what was talked about at the meeting. >> Yes. Yeah. So feel free to >> Well, what was presented in our packet and to the public was not the policy that was going to be changed. So to me, we have to do a new first read because if you're going to do a first read, you should have the correct policy and the correct language on there. So um I didn't come become aware of that until the meeting
011actually said something. So when I got back home later in the week, I'm looking I'm going because I had question the reason my questions were there is because it wasn't making sense. But when I compared the thing that she wanted to do with the right policy, then it made more sense and it was more aligned. I'm not sure I agree with everything on it, but we'll discuss that during the regular board meeting. I had I just did red line things, yellow line things, and green line things. You know, these I agree with these don't. And I'll ask her about those during the meeting. You guys know me well. I like to do everything in a meeting open in front of the public. I don't like to basically send it to a board member and then
012discuss about I don't first off I don't have time to be doing it outside of the board meeting. Second off, I don't think it's very transparent. So that's not how I'm how I roll most of the time. But anyhow, I think that's covers all of the procedures that we'll review. Identify which policies require reporting back to the board so we can maintain proper oversight. You know, I think there should be a priority checklist, John. That would be what I would think. You know, you and Ashley can discuss that. All right. And >> tell me where we are right now. >> That was these three. P4 is review current policy status. So those I have on here. This is what the OCA puts out at the last meeting. We did a second read of um EBE,
013which is the overdose one that was approved at the last meeting. And also the EDC artificial intelligence was also approved. I did not see unless I missed it this EFD which is the food and I think I would have noticed that as a farmer that one I found very interesting misbranded foods and cultivated uh protein food products and >> what about you >> that's what the OSBA has out here um they said that that was uh I think house bill 10 it's a new policy it's a required policy I attached it is EFD here. >> Did you have that first read or did we also approve it? >> No, just you I didn't. I just said I just put it in here as >> Oh, I thought I saw that on >> review of policy
014status. >> Well, the board I think was kind of conflicted on if if we would make recommendations for the first read or if if the committee would recommend the first read. I'm fine with the committee doing that, but I'm just one person on the board. So, the rest of the board would have to agree with the committee doing the first read and then coming back to the board for a final read. >> But you don't believe the FD was on there. >> No, it was not on there. I didn't see it. Did you see it? My >> No, I didn't see it. I thought I thought there was four in the block and that was one of them. >> There were four. >> There were >> they were, but that was not one of them.
015Right. I don't think so. >> I thought I saw the >> um I can tell you in a minute. I just pull it up here real quick. While we're doing that, um would would you all um like to be included in the reading policy for the preschool? >> Yeah. So what we passed at the last meeting as a second read was EBD protection of reporting safety and fraud violations whistleblower um DLC expense reimbursements DLCR expense reimbursement. So do you guys understand what the difference is between DLC and DLCR? So the OSPA the way they do their policies I don't know if I'm gonna say this right. I think I something down here so I would but I don't I so they have the policy which is the board right policy and then R is the
016regulation of the policy how it's being implemented or put into place how the um administration is doing the implementing of that policy. Can you explain it better? >> No, I just add to it. It's very specific and it has to be >> to the detail as do all policies and we can't the administration can't make things up, can't assume things. And that's one of the the functions I think this committee should really be after. A lot of times when we're looking through policy that's been existing for a long time, we find that there's something missing or something needs to be updated. It doesn't apply anymore. I think it's one of the functions that we need to support. I especially don't like any vagance in policy because when there's vag people trying to find loopholes and
017that hurts everybody along the way it makes you vulnerable to litigation later too. So I think we should be on the lookout for all those kind of but yeah when they're dash that means letter to that exact >> yeah. So um oh but then that was DLR and J EFB. So this bra said >> actually I don't see the EVC but I think we did that. We have the policy committee should look at that to make sure we that's required policy now. >> All right. So just so I have a correct EBD and EB was approved. >> ED you're saying is the first read we have not had yet. >> I don't know John that's what I'm saying. Uh echo delta echo Charlie. It's on this list from the March update from OSDA but I
018don't see it as one that we passed at the last meeting. I I thought that one was on there but it was not. It was release time for religious instruction. So this one should probably this uh artificial intelligence should says to revise it should be revised. So that one should probably be looked at. The two that I noticed we didn't have was a misbranded food. That's a new policy and it has to do with meat as a meat product or an egg product or that is cultivated protein food as defined by state law and the state food I guess right they don't want food in the schools and that's what that policy has to do with um there's only one language on this one and sample langage by SBA. >> Can you save this one?
019>> I'm looking at that one. That's the Echo Fox drop. >> Okay. And I think that should go on the May 6th agenda for sure. And and then if you look at the second one that's attached, it's um J Echo Bravo um entrance a command uh kindergarten and see that's one like they give you two give our two samples right now originally. we took the second sample. So the only change would be um the second they add they take out August 1 and they put the first day of instruction of the school year um for mittens is eligible to enroll and underneath that you can see it says that's a legal reference and this is um legally required that we have to have this policy. So this update should happen that should be that could
020be a first read today but not pick this one doesn't match the cop doesn't match our policy now just recommend the OSA but my what I remember from our one meeting was that they went forward as a whole to look at those. So you have to clarify that count when you have your report to the to the board on if you want to do first reads. I think I think it would be more effective. >> So regarding JB bring me up to speed you guys. Um if you know when did when did it roll back? Has it been August 1 for a long time or is that >> uh I think this policy passed the original policy passed on December 12th, 2023 I believe. >> Been a practice fire. >> Yes. Um that's when we
021redid the policies from Nola to OSDA. Um but this March update house bill 14 202.6 requires students to be the age before the first day. So it's it is a required policy and we need to update that. So that >> I'm getting my education here. Are there kids that like me in midepptember? >> So there are sometimes exceptions to >> the curious. >> If they're sick, you mean if they're younger, are you saying they go through evaluation process? I don't know if that policy says that though. The policy says each child who is five of age on or before August 1st or on or before the first day of >> there's an I there's an IB that talks about acceleration. >> Okay, >> that might be there. >> Maybe >> it caught my attention because
022I'm the September 28th and I started that still happened. So it may help category. >> So those are the only ones I saw that I do see this. I thought that the artificial intelligence one passed. I think it's an updated policy. >> Yeah. So we had that artificial intelligence. We needed to um every school district needed to do this, but we especially were interested in to be ahead of the game. We did it early and remember Magic School AI is what we introduced. We needed to have a platform that it was a closed environment for our students and our teachers so that no one could get into tr. And so that's why we were approving ours before everybody else. And then since then there's been some other things I see here, some best practices to
023be incorporated into it. So we essentially have a working policy that's work. Um but there's always that's why we did this review. There's always some things added that we need to >> Yeah, it looks like we updated it November 624. So about that. >> Where are you right now? >> That was um before review of current policy status. I I figured that's what that meant. I didn't write this agenda and to me that's you know those are the current one. So I brought those two >> that's I kind of jumped ahead when I asked the question about their desire to be involved. So I did put that down uh in establishing goals and priorities. Um, I guess the question I have is is how like how do we involve? How do we engage and interact?
024Are we asking people to show up with maybe lines? What do you think as far as lining out items and suggestions or what are we looking for participants? >> Well, I would I would think that um you would the committee would at the end of whatever you're discussing have a list of policies that first you prioritize your prior your policies that you guys that for the next meeting you would have a list of here's ones and committee members could be asked with looking at those >> well I was just thinking early in the school year after summer started sometimes it's overwhelming what they provide because legislation passed. I remember one meeting policy that they were considering >> and so sometimes it's a lot other times it's not very at all as far as getting it
025early to committee and then you know taking it for a month or taking it for a couple weeks or whatever and then coming back with some ideas. that way. You could ask teachers, you could ask other way to do that. And I I sure love what you say about transparency because policy, it really does have back. It helps everybody. And so I'm kind of a policy. I always have and and so I've always looked at it as if we get policy right. It's hard to mess it up. We have just follow. So like I said, sometimes there's flurry of things. There's so many of them that we have to kind of divide the work. >> Yeah. >> Other times that we can talk it out here. And then the whole thing though is if this
026meets every month you think it's going to be every month. >> So when every month for the meetings or >> Yeah. once a month >> that when I spoke to Ashley earlier today, my understanding was >> that they want to meet every month. >> So, the nice thing is OSBA usually gives us plenty of time and so we could be on that schedule. We're not going to like fall behind schedule, especially if this work this this committee work can save the board some time. >> Yes. >> Yeah. That's the whole thing. So, it shouldn't slow us down to meet every single month because we get a well in advance and then we take it for a month and discuss it with many people. I'm sorry, one second. So if along those lines, um, as board
027members, we have to be careful and if you can help us with this, um, we don't create ground level. We don't form board policy outside of here or outside of there. It's really easy to do. You guys start sharing ideas and, you know, we were to accidentally bounce back. So just be real careful of that. We don't want to if we we've started let's say we've started talking about EFB right here or in the board meeting then if we continue that conversation outside of a board meeting will actually legally continue just help us stay honest on that I'm very careful with that see us get in the weeds and you all can do whatever you want >> you guys can talk amongst yourself all you want just help us not to get into because we're
028supposed to be forward facing And the public's the idea is they know the rational behind our decision if when we're being rational and um and uh so we try to do everything in front of the public and that's our mandate by law. So just help us with that when you can. If you see anybody starting to go back and forth, raise your hand. Appreciate that. >> So I guess that would be part of um the the goals and priorities of of the committee to be transparent, right? >> And to ensure alignment with Ohio law, that's part of being transparent. Um, so we'd be improving the transparency of policy changes. That would be a good thing. Uh maybe clarifying reporting expectations to the board. Um, addressing the required legal updates, right? think those would be great
029goals >> or I have a question. >> Yes. Um, as far as the policies, uh, how often do we have to review them? >> Every year. I mean, is there >> what? >> More frequent. >> Okay. >> Accomodations. the legislation is being passed through. So that means then has to take the legislation and then at OBA they had an attorney and they argue through it trying to get as clear as possible but generalized policy that satisfies the law but also satisfies what the district need then district and so that's like I say others throughout the year policies are introduced by all the time because legislation there's a flurry of legislation passenmber and then as many but there's usually four if you look when we changed all of our policies a couple years ago we changed
030from the old um I can't say that up until now if we were to go through get all of our policies and I think it's a A through L is what we have something like that. So if we divide that up that's actually 12. We have to accelerate a little bit but I think this will be the first year in a long time actually gone through and review all our policy state which is you really need to do because some of them are so generic. Some of them are not necessarily all the way we want them or maybe applicable. It's just written until you get down and add the RS and add the specific direction. we're not really going in by policy >> and and I guess that was my question like what is the
031realistic time frame to be able to accomplish that? >> So when I when I hear review um that doesn't mean revise my policy. You could have be looking at all of say F which is facilities. There's like four policies that seven policies that you can know, right? And you may look at them and say, "This some of these policies are like this one here. It's a sentence, you know, it's maybe two sentences and you look at it, go, "Yeah, that one's fine. That's fine." You know, you're not going to be rewriting. You might look at it and just put it to the side. That one's fine. um that we in most of them I would say a lot of them are probably going to be like that but then you're going to see some that
032say wow this one required board action and I don't think the board has ever done anything policy this requires student surveys teacher surveys parent surveys have we done that you know well we the board should be doing oversight saying hey superintendent when was the last time we had these done our policies blah blah blah those who need to do this. Those things the policy committee could help the board because there are things that we let slide by not because we're not doing our job necessarily, but because there's so many things um that's part of why I thought a board clerk would be a good idea because those could keep us on track and say, "Hey, you need to do this. You should have done this. This is time." Um who does that now? you know,
033try to keep you guys in track and online. >> Well, it would be us doing it ourselves in our spare time. Um, there's a lot of policy to look at though. So, that's why I felt it was important to have policy committee having finance committee because the finance committee could actually take care of those kind of policies, right? Look at them and say, "Hey, you guys need to look at this one because there are some things here." Yeah, I mean we've internally I'd say the last two years we have not >> we've not done a good job at all >> deadlines certain situations with legal actions etc. >> Yeah, but I'll use this as an example. In accordance with state law, the board prohibits the purchase of food that is either misbranded as a meat
034product or an egg product or that is cultivated protein food product as defined by state law. My first question would be are those the only two things we want to make sure not misbranded mislabeled or should we have a policy that says nothing will be misbranded or mislabeled right we won't allow food that is misbranded and mislabeled. So just simple things like that that could be a hopefully a 30 second conversation and not a lot of depth. So to answer your question, ideally 12 weeks would take 12 months and you could go through each letter by month or a few months behind. So we have to accelerate and pick and pick and skip over the ones that aren't controversial. >> As far if the new policy was sent to the board or the superintendent assistant
035then as quick as possible coming from this committee. >> Yes. you know, if it were last week that they got the PDQ with all of the updates policies, then they could come immediately. >> Yeah. And and the superintendent typically does bring up policy changes. He um that you know you guys this needs to be done. This is legislation requires it and he brings it and so yeah he brings a lot of policies to it which he should and that's one of his job duties is to do that. >> I think this will help us meet timeline. Sometimes we we look and oh that's supposed to be approved in March or whatever. So I think this hopefully this committee will help us to stay on track dates like saying >> well hopefully and and I know
036there's you have 20 policies in front of you which we have had before I look through them I look my or my eyes when I'm looking at 20 and I'm not talking to teachers and parents and students to this policy is definitely going to affect I'm looking at it from my point of view and my point of view is just one very narrow thing in our whole big community and it doesn't affect me like it would you or you or Mike or um the students at the high school. So I think having it go in front of a policy committee where you can have more input um from other people just like this and round robin type of thing you know you're not doing that at a board meeting you can't we're going through 20
037of them we already have meetings don't meet I I certainly think having in my opinion having the public having all stakeholders involved in the policy. Um, revision is extremely important and it makes you have a better policy and better school. >> Yeah. And I'm glad you all are here. I mean, we're looking at >> Oh my gosh. >> important, very important for school right now. I would welcome any feedback that you guys have me at the board member on things we outsource, things that we can do better. love to hear, you know, as we wrap arms around these policies and try to form them in a way that's meaningful and and maintains and for me maintains our our in-house preschool and and provides great services to that. I want to know the best way to
038represent that. >> So, are we on track? Yeah, I would like I think we're kind of talking about six, right? Then that policy that they're corros they should come before the policy committee that they should be redlined clear changes like um the one that came in and that was all miscommunication from what I'm understanding. But how many how many people reviewed that policy that they didn't know that that's what happened? You had five board members, right? and then actually told us at the meeting, hey, there was a typo. This was supposed to be for R. So that just that's just one policy. Think about when we have 20. So having them come to us to a committee would be a good thing. And and we got to remember too though that policy in my opinion
039I like to hear what Mike and and everybody else has to say um that policy that they stay at a policy level and not administrative procedures. That's what the R is for. That's for administrative procedure. Our policy should have our goals, expectations of what the outcomes are we want. And then the R will be the administration of those for the superintendent would have like we have a student handbook, code of conduct handbook, all those type of things. Those kind of those policies. Is that how you see or could have performance dates, you know, or could have, you know, this would be accomplished by this state. they can get. I also say um probably know um you're here more than we are. We're here on a part-time basis, you know, four meetings a month or whatever.
040And we have some knowledge that you guys deliver. So, you know, also in this you guys can dig in and probably help us a ton prepared um for what affects you and how and get us down the road a lot quicker and more efficiently. that we'll just you know we'll miss but we don't even know you know perhaps the intricacies really meet we think we do but wherever meets the road so get the word out and we'll keep this going and and I think I think we'll get great input from from staff we started that process you hear the stuff the name >> I started 2023 Yeah, but you were Were you in that meeting? We had We were working on a >> We were working on a >> He was He wasn't at that
041meeting. You're talking about when you were doing the >> Yeah, we were working on a >> what whatever you want to call that dating type, you know, inter relational policy. And it just it was just really quick, sloppy, I thought. And the staff started throwing out information that no one else in the room knew, you know, like, oh, did you know this person married this person? So, you know, if I want to go to a movie, I have to fill out this form, you know, that kind of thing. And then it just died because nobody wanted to at that time nobody wanted to do and I said you know I think it was bowling green bowling green has a policy that policy was you know like this just for that you know but I'm like
042we got to have something better than you have to fill out this form in pinky square if you want to take your you know a fellow teacher to the movies and I'm being facitious but really not. So, um, I just want to see us work through work through those things with you instead of what's been happening before is just somebody makes it up, you wonder where it came from if it's not from the OBA, right? >> Yeah. Right. Because when you get into strange territories like that, then somebody's just coming up with. So, without you guys, you won't have good policy. >> Will your committee then um Like if you know that you're going to be talking about preschool policy, will then your committee reach out to preschool people or is it up to people
043who are interested in preschool to notice that you're going to be talking about it at a policy meeting and then choose to come? >> I would think that the chain would maybe go through >> but then we can't be sure. >> But there's also notices going out just like any other >> Yeah. can't reach out like I think you're saying engage that way we need to do that I mean they can listen to teachers members of course >> um what was saying earlier it's tough to get into that conversation and influence it that way listening to um one of the questions I had about the procedures and what we're doing is this the committee or can it be can we addition if other people want to deal. >> Well, yeah. So, we're we're the committee
044is >> you're the committee. So, committing committee members. >> Yeah. Then according to >> can the people who come and participate, >> right? Yeah. So, we we might have a policy that affects facilities and then maybe maybe that would be Mr. Cro and some other people versus this group. I think it's gonna change according to >> so if at the this is advertised at the website and put on board if at the next meeting we get 20 people who show up are they participating members or are they is this committee >> I tell you like right now the three of us came today because we were told that preschool policy was going to be talked about today. Oh, >> so we didn't come to like >> join the policy committee, >> right? So like that's
045what I'm saying. We we came because we were told, you know, by our >> union leader that this was going to probably be talked about because it was mentioned last at the last meeting. So I mean speaking for the two of you actually be on the committee but um that's I just mean like so not as like committee members necessarily but like if if we're going to be talking if you guys are going to be talking about something as a policy committee like how are you getting the input from the people who it directly affects >> so far the one I've been involved in this there might be you know we we've added here and we accommodate accommodate maybe 20 people or so and usually it's probably a little bit more than this with the
046superintendent here some others but we haven't had a challenge we haven't had a challenge where like there's people usually it's usually been pretty informal like it is right now >> so what are the possibilities so the room is set up it's a public meeting that's what you're saying what if this is kind of a hot topic. What if we have a room full and others will participate? >> We can have public participation, >> but but will the committee to the people? >> I'm sorry. >> Will the committee discussion be limited to the people who are >> I would I would say that you all can work together how you want? So if the room were filled because people were really interested in that particular mission heard about committee they show up are they in the
047gallery or all part we'll have to cross we have 40 people that want to say more than hey keep the preschool >> but you haven't seen I don't So I would I'm gonna guess that most of the people are there to say let's say for instance we want the preschool we support the preschool. I don't think we're going to have a room full of people that say I want to redline this and change into bus or whatever. So I don't know. I guess we'll have to I I love the dream. I hope we get that type of participation. >> Oh my gosh that would be so awesome really. I mean kind of like that guy who know what you have to say everybody. >> Yeah, I wasn't born yet. liar. So, no, but I mean,
048yeah, I guess something you would have been very concerned about. And I will say this, you can have like once you weren't aware that was going to happen, right, until it happened. But you can put in a request to the district to have um all meetings sent to you. That is a request. And then they have to email every time there's a board meeting to pass the agenda. There's going to be a meeting on this day or two. There's going to be a special meeting and you can look through real quick. Um you can if you looked at that and you had problems you can send to the board and I think people don't do it because they want to do it anonymously. I don't know. So they're afraid to do speak out and say,
049"Hey, I don't like this. This is why I don't like this." Right? And that's a problem, right? That's why I like to have teacher surveys and stuff because I realized that I used to work in corporate America. I didn't want to get on the wrong side of anybody for sure. Um, but putting a letter together and mailing it, nobody knows who nailed it. Nobody knows. >> I think Yeah. And I think we're blurring the lines of general ideas and policy, right? >> We're talking about I support this, we should do this, we should do that different. We're talking a lot of times we're talking about drilling down into >> should it just be misbranded meat and eggs or should it be more when we get into that >> it's hard >> room a cathedral. >>
050So how do we accommodate though? Like they said, they wanted to be able to talk about this specific policy today, right? >> Um, >> well, >> I mean, we have upcoming policy items on here, so we could say, >> "What are your concerns?" >> Subject six, discussion of upcoming policy items. >> So, the policy is supposed to just be tuition, correct? No, there was a lot of different changes in that policy. >> So the policy So >> tuition was one of them. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Um >> so what's that of $50 according to the policy and um what was brought before the board was changing that a little bit. Let me see if I can find where my notes are on that. While you're doing that, I can give you an idea of
051I can give you an idea um of the idea. Okay. So the idea that um that I think we're trying what we're trying to accomplish, this was kind of Ashley's idea, is accomplish more flexibility for the district to affect tuition, uh tuition to be approved by the board prior to enrollment, no change during the school year. Drill down into the enrollment process. last increase. Um, we lost participants and we lowered the fees but did not c we did not contact lost enrollies and uh preschool to remain in house. current board policy states that the fee is $50 per role models which may be a conflict of some of our policies and so and maybe increasing that but not to our harmful level so that we can cover cost and think that's the backbone of what
052we're trying to do >> and then we have different ways of going at it I will put I will put I want to put dates for that this date. This would be the plan of the board September maybe superintendent or maybe one of the um the state of state that have very hard executed dates that kind of so that's kind of that's the goal we have. >> You said the policy says that the board would approve the rate I'm saying that is the goal. >> The policy has written the revisions leave the tuition up to the administration. The board doesn't uh approve it or not approve it. Um think she said it was I think what was said in there was that it would be um based on >> are you looking at R? >>
053Yes. Which what what R says now it's $50, right? what she says, what her policy that she wrote is that it would be based on the going rate in our community. >> So that's not the exact language, but the board does not approve that rate. >> There were there, this is just my feedback. I'm not representing, but there were comparable districts. that's subject to a lot of I just decided upon you know that so um I think we need to nail down what comparable means and there's there's there's certain things like maybe she missed the fact that the board will approve because I don't want we don't want >> from my perspective I don't want someone to be able to manipulate numbers to create an increase that causes a drop in enrollment and say comparables.
054I came up with two very real comparisons and even we may not even care what the comparisons are. They say preschool is important to us and we think threshold with the number section and all that kind of parents we have should be a little lower than comparables. We just want I think board approval. I think >> I think it does say that now that I'm looking at my other notes. say that it's full approval, but it's based off of align with cost >> and other districts. I'd have to double check that. You want to make sure that I think the board >> tell us what >> you concerned about the tuition. So, I mean, I think that that's your guys's decision what the amount is, but I am the face of the person who had
055to sit and tell parents like, "Here's the tuition policy and it's $200 a month." And people walked out of the door. >> They they they left. They were like, "I can't I can't afford that." So, I I think we just want to make sure you have information like that. Like, this is what >> that is for typical peers, right? Are the typical peers allowed to attend all day? >> No, we're two. We don't have all day. They're two half day. >> Could the typical peers be all day? >> Is that a model that could take place? >> You would have to serve them lunch and they would have to have a nap or like quiet time. >> Oh, because they're preschool. >> Yes. And our planning time and lunchtime is in between the two classes.
056>> So that there would be nobody to watch. What is the ratio for typical peers during that one hour period? That would be a one hour two hour period. >> Say the one hour in between. >> Yeah. In between the two classes. So it's two hours. >> It's a two hour time period. >> What is the typical What is the ratio for typical peers in our classes? If you had the typical peers, I know that some of the preschools allow the students to stay all day. the typical peers. They're there all day. I'm just curious. I'm asking I'm not administration would want want to do it or not. >> You're asking adults to kids the ratio. >> Yes. For typical is it 18 to one or if it's 24 to one for non >> one
057to eight. One to eight. No matter what. >> No matter what. >> Okay. Yeah. >> That's just scary. >> Yeah. >> Two hours. Um because if you had it 200 I would think just brains I'm a brainstormer guys throw stuff out there. If you had kids out there parents out there who said hey we have all day preschool for a month for $200 then they would probably say no problem. Right. >> Yeah. >> Because I can see where parents would say nope because they got to drive them to the preschool. We're transporting those and they want to take her policy takes that away too. when we so I've been with the district for 19 years so we used to be in elementaryaries and so when we were in elementaryaries we did not transport parents had
058to bring their kids >> so that's but when we moved to this building they changed that >> would be a good cost comparison >> transporting >> peers and everyone >> yes are you having trouble getting the right numbers. >> Yes, we're not >> because 50, right? There's no >> They took it back. But once you took it back, you didn't >> That didn't No. No. >> How do you How do you How do you do you have a list of people call someone? those students would be most of them getting ready to go on to kindergarten. Yeah. >> Wouldn't really matter. >> There wouldn't be a reason to call them now. >> How many preschools did you have in the elementary school? >> When I started um we had five and so it started at
059one at Growport, one at Glen Denning, two at Sidelia, one at Asbury. By the time we left it was two at Growport, two at Aspberry, two at Sidelia, and now we've grown. We have eight classrooms now, which is >> for for the space is the max. >> Is the bus service well utilized or >> I would say there's more bus riders >> and the kids love it. I mean like that that was the hard thing when when I had peers that had to be dropped off and picked up by their parents like I want to ride the bus and I'm like oh sorry you don't next year in kindergarten you know so is that the big concern though the tuition rate going up I was this >> knowing that it probably shouldn't be 50 >>
060yeah I mean 50 to 50 50 is low 200 is really high. How did it go to 200 when the policy says it has to be >> moved up to 100 last school year and it remained 100 all year and then they increased it to 200 this year and then back down to 50. policies. >> So in 20 the 24 25 it was 100. >> Yes. >> And then 25 26 it went up to 200. >> That's what the left wheel by the copers were >> 100 >> and now it's back down to 100. >> Now it's back to 50. >> Was that Was that drastic? What >> was 50 work? Was 100 working? >> 24 25 >> We didn't Yeah, the 200 there was push back. There was a lot of like shock faces.
061I would say the only push back we got when it went up to 100 was for students who were there the previous year who had been paying 50 and then now had to pay 100. >> But other than that, we didn't have the push back that we did with the 200. >> So at the 25 26, you just weren't able to get the typical peers. Is that the problem? a 200. >> Yeah. And I think also part of it when we were in the schools, parents saw us, >> right? >> Parents could be and so there would be times I would run to the office to talk to a family about preschool and what the program was. >> So our faces are here, which is great. It's all great being together, but I think there
062needs to be a change in how you promote the program to let people know that it's here and that we're here to to give them the service. It feels kind of hidden like >> Well, you brought up a great point in that, you know, um transportation costs are a lot n million or something and going up. Okay. But um >> anyway um how compare this to the Celia model where Selia's right in the middle obviously got a lot of people within distance there. Um how does how does that work better? I know I'm sure there's tradeoffs. Oh, with us all being together. >> Yeah. >> Versus the community, if you will. >> Um, I like us all being together because it was hard being your own little entity in an elementary school where everybody else
063was doing something completely different because preschool has it own set of rules that we have to follow. It's own it's its own little beast. And so, it's nice being with your co-workers. I know exactly what that beast is and the things that you have to go through. >> Um that is nice interesting feedback. Hopefully the other board members are listening because that's interesting. Um >> well yeah future meeting schedule. What Ashley told me, um, and I guess you guys can discuss it at the board meeting is, uh, if it was on a Monday like it is now, it would have to be six o'clock, which is later. And on Thursday, she could do it earlier. >> What do you prefer form stuff? Um, >> what time Thursday? >> You said earlier on Thursday. >> Earlier.
064She said she could even do it at noon, but that might be a problem for her. >> What works for you guys? I mean, you're working >> two. >> What do you think best for the community? >> I don't intend to be on the committee permanently. My intent was to come and discuss preschool. >> Um, but I will say that if you want teachers Yes. >> to be a part of it, you cannot have it during teacher hours. So, you couldn't start it until 4 o'clock because that's when elementary and preschool teachers are done. Do you think 4 p.m. is a good time? >> You want teachers involved? >> Yeah. What you do is you reach a spot where they they've been since >> Well, Ashley and John, you're gonna have to discuss that. It's
065up to you guys here because she needed somebody here. I'm glad we were able to be here. On the E. Motion to adjurnn. >> Yes. I make the motion that we adjourn at 13. >> All in favor? I I >> All right. >> Thank Thanks everybody. We're adjourned at 5:15. A little bit longer, but I'm glad we did a little >> Oh, did you? I'm sure you remember building. >> I don't want to know. >> I was there when there was actually a real tornado.