Board of Education Regular Meeting

Dr. Butcher called for a motion to enter into executive session to hear the concern of Ms.Heidi Collins, as stated above, the vote is recorded here. 

The Board entered the executive session at 6:38 p.m.

The executive session ended and the meeting resumed to continue with the Hearing of the Public at 7:07 p.m.

Only Board members went into a private room for the Executive Session. The Superintendent and Treasurer remained at the meeting table.

Dr. Hire told the Board that he attended the Business Advisory Council. He attached the agendas from the meeting and briefly covered the content in the agenda for the Board. 

Dr. Hire stated that CORAS is asking school districts to pay more to belong so they can pay an advocate to represent them and 

Equity and A - voucher

CORAS dedicated to - have we paid in prior years and how much? Promote and advocate for state and federal resources in 30+ counties.SE/Southern Ohio. Some districts have asked about half each year instead of $10K each year. CAnnot pay for something like this out of Federal dollars.

Steve Clark stated that since we don't know our finances right now with teachers/admin salaries and changes in the state revenue, he does not think we should do it.  Tad also agreed saying that we cannot get wage increases for our staff it is hard to spend $10K for a lobbyist. Steve clarified that he thinks it is a good idea, he just wants to make sure we have the money to be a part of it. Dr. Hire understands where everyone stands here. 

Ms. Eyerman explained that the Board meeting rate has not changed since 1987. She feels it is time to review this. She explained that the existing Board members would not be voting on raises for themselves, the rate would only change for newly elected Board members.  If a sitting Board member were to be re-elected, then upon the start of their new term, they would receive the updated rate per meeting. 

She then explained that the rate is part of a Board Policy, the agenda for the next Board meeting will have first reads of Board Policy and this policy will be among them. The treasurer is recommending the rate increase to $125 per meeting and stated that it could be discussed further and changed if needed at the time it is on the agenda. She also stated that she would find out what surrounding districts are paying their Board members. Mr. Johnson stated that the Career Center pays $125 per meeting. Mr. Clark stated that $87/mo with taxes and retirement taken out of it didn't leave a lot. Dr. Hire mentioned that the Board could consider waiting to change it after the election that way no one would be voting to give themselves a raise. 

Ms. Eyerman explained becasue the Board asked about the Self Insurance Fund last month, she provided a brief summary this month and will do so moving forward. She also explained that the infomation being provided is information available to all members of the Insurance Committee as soon as it is available.  She provided a total amount of dollars in the 024 - Self-Insurance fund and the chart that broke it down between the balance for Dental Claims and the Balance for Medical Claims.  She than explained that the bottom of the chart was a "cut-out" of the Fund Balance report that the Board always receives with the Monthly Financial Summary - with the current month balance and explained that the detail in the General Ledger account is always reconciled back to the cash balance. She is tracking now the increase/decrease in balance from month to month so she can begin to see trends in the data.

Ms. Eyerman revied each page of the financial report stating that she is working toward a more "user friendly"
 presentation of the data while using the information as it comes from the accounting system. She recognizes that the reports presented last month were not a good option so they will see some differences this month and may see more changes as time goes on. She reviewed the monthly revenue, pointing out that property taxes were received. She also provided the Board with the Property Tax analysis so they could see the revenue for three years from the county auditor. for the Fall collections. She then went on to explain that the revenue from Homestead and Rollback funds also arrived this month, typically they show up the month after property taxes.  She stated that she would not present on the state fund dollars this month because they are slated to change in October and she would go into detail in October to explain all of the changes. She stated the expenditures again are summer pays and the changes would be reflected in September as new teacher contracts are added (September 1 is the start of all teacher contracts) All other expenses were as expected.  She brought attention to the fact that the balance of the General Fund recorded on the bottom of the page matched the Cash Summary report highlighted amounts to include Fund 001 and two line items in fund 002 the House Bill and Field House lease accounts.

Tad asked about the term of the Field House Lease.  Ms. Eyerman stated she would provide this information to the Board. He also asked about the frequency of payment. Ms. Eyerman explained that the District makes two payments a year. Once included principal and interest and the other is an interest payment on most of the debt payments. He then asked about the balance showing on the Cash Summary account.  Ms. Eyerman replied that the balance in these funds includes the property taxes that were just deposited and any prior balance left in the fund. She then reviewed the Reconciliation of the Bank Accounts to the Fund Ballances on the Books showing that both are in balance. 

Ms. Eyerman will file the Permanent Appropriations using data through September 30, which will be used to align with the planning for the Forecast that will be brought to them in October for approval and filed by November 1st. At that time she will also provide the Appropriation detail for the Board to review.

Ms. Eyerman will file the First Amended Report of Estimated Resources using data through September 30 which will be used to align with the planning for the Forecast that will be brought to them in October for approval and filed by November 1st. At that time she will also provide the Estimated Resources detail for the Board to review.

The vote for this item is recorded in 10.0.

Item Tabled, no vote recorded.

 The Board members were provided a chart to review and discuss- Dr. Butcher would like to see more information  - what have we paid for subs in the past - assuming a 50% increase in our sub costs, what would that do to our forecast? Ms. Eyerman stated she would provide that information to the Board, she also stated she would provide the average per diem rate for our current teachers, as requested. There was discussion about when a sub goes to a higher rate than the sub rate - Ms. Eyerman explained that Ohio Revised Code states that on day 61- a long-term sub moves to a teacher contract rate as Base+0 and the district must provide insurance as it would be provided to a staff member.

The Board tabled this item until further information is gathered.

Ms. Eyerman explained that this resolution does not commit the District to anything. However, there are dollars budgeted for a Bus purchase in ESSER II and the new state funding includes matching funds for a bus purchase. This resolution puts the District in a place to be able to move forward with a bus purchase when we are ready. It notifies Southwestern Ohio Educational Purchasing Council & Omer-Resa that the District may be in the market for a bus and request to be a participant in their Bid process.

This item was removed from the agenda - no vote was recorded.

Opening approval of the agenda - Board President asked if there were any changes to the agenda - treasurer request this item be removed from the agenda prior to the approval of the agenda - at this time attorneys have provided no information to bring forth to the board

The vote for this item is recorded on 11.0.

The vote for this item is recorded on 12.0.

Donna Yoder and Wendy asked to be removed from the list, they do not want to work in the planetarium. Their names were not included in the vote.

The vote for this item is recorded on 12.0.

Dr. Hire stated that the Board approves the bus routes annually

The vote for this item is recorded on 12.0.

Dr. Hire explained that the District is interested in adding support with skill levels that will help to reduce costs of outsourcing maintenance.