Board of Education Regular Meeting

Mrs. Ashbrook shared a PowerPoint that summarized the amounts of funds allocated and how the district uses them for each of the district's FY2022 Federal and State competitive and entitlement grants.

The Board decided not to participate at this time. 

Ms. Eyerman presented the certified permanent appropriations detail and the total amount of revenue from all sources for FY22 that were approved at the September meeting. She explained that these will be reviewed and may be updated quarterly if needed.

Ms. Eyerman presented financial data related to the State report card that included the District's average teacher wage, the % of total expenditures, and the amount spent on expenditures related to the classroom and for administrative costs. The presentation also compared local and state funding to other comparable districts and state averages.

Ms. Eyerman informed the Board that the grant for the LED lighting that was tied to the Chiller has been awarded. The District will receive $200,000 toward upgrading the lighting in the HS to LED. She also stated that there will be additional costs to this project as stated in a proposal from Plugsmart.  The administration will meet to determine the best path for the District at this time. - more to come.

Ms. Eyerman explained that the forecast she planned to present in October was to include the new state funding formula. The state has delayed this information until December so she is not able to present the data. The forecast will be presented at the November meeting. She did speak of the financial status related to current funding notifying the Board that currently the District deficit spends each year and without any changes, would show a negative cash balance in year 3 of the forecast. This would require the District to provide the Department of Education with a plan on how the District will rectify this urgent financial state. She referenced the letter from ODE in 2020 that required the District to use Wellness funding to rectify the negative cash balance in the third year of the forecast.

The vote for this item is recorded on 11.0.

Ms. Eyerman highlighted the September wages because they were higher than the last two months explaining that this is the first month that included FY22 wages, teachers, and classified step increases were included as well as severance payouts for retirees. She also pointed out the increased purchased services and negative balance on the "Other" line(line 04.300) explaining that MVESC purchased services were being charged to "other" (line 04.300) and should be on the purchased service line. There are still some MVESC charges being coded to the "other" (line 04.300) line. The cash reconciliation is tied to the total cash in all funds and the total General fund ties to the related lines in the cash summary report.

The vote for this item is recorded on 11.0.

The vote for this item is recorded on 11.0.

The vote for this item is recorded on 12.0.

Dr. Hire explained that this was an annual agreement and was necessary for our food service department to prepare and deliver meals and file for reimbursements.

Ms. Eyerman presented data to the Board that was requested at the September meeting and made a recommendation for new substitute rates stating that she reviewed the rates with the surrounding districts, looked at current starting wages for each of our regular employees in order to keep the sub rates less than our staff wages. 

There was discussion among board members about the amounts, the need to pay enough to attract the subs to our district. Mr. Clark asked specifically about bus drivers, proposing that the rate paid for trips for all drivers district and substitutes be increased. He shared his concern about there not being enough subs or regular drivers and the need for them. He is especially concerned about burn-out and sees it coming. 

The vote for this item is recorded on 12.0.

The cost of this purchased service is being covered with ARP Homeless grant funds. 507-9122.

Dr. Hire provided the Board with detailed information regarding COVID cases in Coshocton and surrounding areas as well as absences in the school He also asked the Board to reconsider implementing a mask requirement of some sort, providing suggestions. He stated that the cases are not improving, he is concerned about not only our students and staff but those who can carry COVID at home. He stated he will act on and support whatever the Board decides, but he felt compelled to bring this back up with the board for the sake of the safety of our staff and students. Dr. Hire asked the Board to consider doing one of three things. 1.) Reconsider masking on a regular basis, 2.) Consider part-time masking when students and/or staff are moving around - in the halls, etc. 3.) Consider scheduling a special meeting to re-assess our current practice and determine if it is effective.

The vote for this item is recorded on 13.0.

The vote for this item is recorded on 13.0.

This is an annual approval of required District documentation. 

The vote for this item is recorded on 13.0.

This is a biennial approval of required District documentation.

The vote for this item is recorded on 13.0.

Ms. Eyerman explained, saying that there was some obvious confusion after Ms. Heidi Collins accused the Board of voting to give themselves a raise last month.  She stated there was no vote last month for this, only discussion and that voting for the 0147 Compensation Policy would not be voting to give themselves a raise. She explained that if they voted to approve the increase, they would be voting to pay any new incumbents the new rate of pay. All existing Board members would continue to receive the pay they are currently receiving. The only way it would pertain to any existing Board members is if their current term expires, they run for re-election and are voted back into the Board seat. Upon the start of their new term, they would receive the newly voted rate.

Mr. Johnson asked when the last time was that the compensation for the Board was increased. Ms. Eyerman said it was in 1987.