MINUTES OF THE MARGARETTA BOARD OF EDUCATION (BOE) REGULAR MEETING OF JULY 17, 2023.

Margaretta Board of Education met in regular session at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, July 17, 2023 at the Margaretta Board of Education, 305 S. Washington Street, Castalia, Ohio.

Regular Board Meeting
Mr. Sutorius, Board President, then called the regular meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. requesting roll call by Mrs. Keegan:

Mr. Hula:
Mr. Schoenegge: Mrs. Tucker:
Mr. Sutorius:

Present Present Present Present

Mr. Warner was excused from the meeting.

The Pledge of Allegiance was then recited after roll call.

Approval of the Minutes
Motion by Mr. Hula, and seconded by Mrs. Tucker, to approve the minutes from the Special Board Meeting held on July 5, 2023; Roll Call: Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Board and Staff Reports
Townsend Community School’s (TCS) Report and TCS Margaretta Sponsor’s Report
Mr. Ryan Bohn, TCS Principal and Superintendent, was excused from the meeting and Mr. Kurt gave the TCS update that they have graduated 98 students for this school year. The current enrollment is at 487 students as of July 17, 2023. Mr. Kurt also talked about the TCS remodeling being approximately 2/3 complete and on schedule. He also gave an update on the TCS scheduled open house plans. They have also changed law firms, transitioning from Dickinson-Wright to Amy Goodson Co., LLC.

Mr. Kurt, gave Margaretta’s update. He stated that we had our regular monthly TCS/Margaretta meeting to review current events between the two schools. He stated one of the topics were the TCS bus routes that Margaretta runs. He stated that the five routes from last year will be reduced to four routes next school year, due to the additional student TCS sites. Mr. Kurt also stated that with Mr. Keller going back to the classroom as a CBI teacher, that he and Mrs. Keegan will be absorbing the TCS Compliance Officer responsibilities.

Mrs. Keegan also stated that the Ohio State Auditor, Keith Faber's office, awarded TCS the excellence in financial reporting for FY22. This award is given to the top 8% of all schools and governmental agencies that were audited. There are several things that this award is based on, for instants having a clean financial audit with no findings, no management comments, or correcting entries, etc. The board acknowledged Kelsey’s work and focus to be in this prestigious group

Public Participation None

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Introduction of Additional Items to the Agenda
Mr. Kurt stated that we had the following additional item:
IX.A.5. School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement for the 2023-2024 school year

The Treasurer’s Financial Report and Schedule of Bills
Mrs. Keegan presented the schedule of bills, month end reports, bank reconciliations, fund balances, etc., that were included in the Board’s packages for review. Mrs. Keegan stated that June 30th is the end of the school’s Fiscal Year (FY). She stated that the total operating revenue through the 12 months was a total of $17.0M and with the transfer of the New Facility Reserve transferred back to the general fund increased the total revenue to $20.0M and operational expenses of $15.4M and including the transfers out, grand total expenses were $19.6M resulting in an increase to the general fund balance of $414,543. The beginning cash balance in the total general fund as of July 1, 2022 was $631,329 and this fiscal year generated a final General Fund cash balance of $1,045,872. Operating Revenue was down $1.2M due to Nexus payments of 66% and the 40% and the FY23 State Revenue compared to FY22 was also down $(311)K. She stated in order to compensate for the lost revenue and to cover our general fund operating expenses, we had to transfer back $2.9M of the Nexus money that was originally set aside for the new school reserve. Comparing the twelve months of FY23 versus FY22 our expenses have increased $(210)K in wages and $(270)K in supplies with benefits down $41K and purchased services down $46K. The big increase in supplies of $(270)K was primarily due to the new Math and ELA Curriculum that was purchased for (220)K and fuel pricing increases for our buses of $(16)K. There was a small sidebar discussion about our bus routes and fuel costs and the switch next year to two routes in FY24 from one in FY23. Mr. Hula then asked about the new routes next school year and stated that parents have been asking him when the bus assignments will be available for the parents. Mr. Kurt stated that bus driver bidding will be August 1st and that the student bus assignments should be made available to parents by August 5th. Mr. Sutorius then asked about our bus replacement status, with Mrs. Keegan stating that we have replaced 7 buses since December, 2020. This is higher than normal given we have had Federal Grant dollars (with CARES, ESSER and Bus Purchase Grant) available to help fund our replacement program. Mrs. Keegan stated that we historically only could afford one bus purchase per year. With these federal and state grants, it has put our bus fleet in a much better position than it has been in the past. Mr. Kurt stated we are anticipating buying a second handicapped bus replacement in FY25 given the significant miles on our second handicapped bus.

Mrs. Keegan was also happy to report that the food service account for the twelve months of the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023, was self-sufficient (did not require the general fund to subsidize it) and ended the year with a positive balance of $149,573. This was in spite of some one-time headwinds that negatively impacted the FY23 results versus FY22. The department had replacement equipment purchases and repairs of $(21)K, one-time severance payouts of $(15)K, and increased healthcare costs of $(15)K. However even with the ending of all students eating for free governmental program, called the Summer Seamless Program, (which reduced our overall food service revenue by $(110)K we still remained with a positive ending balance for the fiscal year.

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Treasurer’s Report New Business
Motion by Mrs. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Hula, on Resolution number 23-24-02, to authorize the Treasurer to make Inter-Fund Advances of funds for the current fiscal year 2024; Roll Call: Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Superintendent’s Report New Business
Motion by Mr. Schoenegge, seconded by Mrs. Tucker, to approve the MTA Tentative Agreement, to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, for the period of September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2024; Roll Call: Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mr. Schoenegge, seconded by Mr. Hula, to provide a support letter for the Cold Creek Foundation effort to mitigate the Canadian goose population on Castalia Pond with an application to the H2Ohio Program. There was some discussion of the past successes of their initiatives; Roll Call: Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Mr. Kurt introduced the first reading of the following 2023-2024 School Year Handbooks: Polar Cubs Preschool Parent Handbook, Margaretta Elementary School Student Handbook, Margaretta Elementary School Staff Handbook, Margaretta Middle School/High School Student Handbook, Margaretta Athletic Handbook. He also stated that the MS/HS Faculty Handbook will be added to the readings for the next board meeting.

Mr. Kurt introduced the first Reading of the following NEOLA Board Policies: PO0131.1 -Technical Corrections, PO0164 - Notice of Meetings, PO1615- Tobacco Use Prevention, PO2114 - Meeting State Performance Indicators, PO2271 - College Credit Plus Program, PO2412 - Homebound Instruction Program, PO3120.09 - Volunteers, PO3215 - Tobacco Use Prevention, PO4120.09 - Volunteers, PO4215 - Tobacco Use Prevention, PO5310 - Health Services, PO5460 - Graduation Requirements, PO5512 - Tobacco Use Prevention, PO5610 -Removal, Suspension, Expulsion and Permanent Exclusion of Students, PO6325 -Procurement, Federal Grants/Funds, PO7434 - Tobacco Use Prevention, PO7540 - Technology Privacy, PO7540.01 - Technology Privacy, PO7540.02 - Web Accessibility, Content, Apps and Services, PO7540.03 - Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety, PO7540.04 - Staff Technology Acceptable use and Safety, PO8120 - Volunteers, PO8300 - Continuity of Organizational Operations Plan, PO8305 - Information Security, PO8315- Information Management, PO8390 - Animals on District Property, PO8400 - School Safety, PO8420 -Emergency Situations at Schools, PO8462 - Student Abuse and Neglect, PO9160 - Public Attendance at School Events, PO9700.01 - Advertising and Commercial Activities. There was a request to resend the draft policy access instructions to the board, which Mrs. Keegan stated she would do.

Motion by Mrs. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Schoenegge, on Resolution number 23-24-04, to approve the contract with the Erie County Sheriff(s) to provide for SRO services in both buildings during the 2023-2024 school year. Mr. Kurt also informed the board that Mrs. Kathy Hall was able to secure a State Grant and was awarded $55K to help with our new MES SRO. Mr. Kurt stated while it doesn’t cover all our costs, it does certainly help; Roll Call: Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

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Personnel Actions
Motion by Mr. Schoenegge, seconded by Mr. Hula, on Resolution number 23-24-03, to approve the MOU with Central State University for a Special Educational Aide to complete their Methods training for the period of August 2023-2025; Roll Call: Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Certified
Motion by Mrs. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Hula, to hire Jeff Keck, (Retire/Rehire) ⅜ Career Based Intervention Teacher for the 2023-2024 school year; Roll Call: Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mrs. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Schoenegge, to approve Jenna Kline, Danielle Comparette and Katie Berg as Resident Educators for the 2023-2024 school year; Roll Call: Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mr. Hula, seconded by Mrs. Tucker, to approve Madison Mullins, Strength and Conditioning Coach for the 2023-2024 school year. Mrs. Tucker asked if she was still teaching any Physical Education or Health classes or if she was doing this fulltime. Mr. Kurt stated some of the conditioning happens during the day, however she is also still teaching gym; Roll Call: Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Classified
Motion by Mr. Hula seconded by Mr. Schoenegge, to hire Dan Eubank, High School Robotics Coach for the 2023-2024 school year. Mr. Kurt stated this will expand our Robotics teams to the high school level, with the previous hiring of Mr. Brad Hoffman as the fourth through eighth grade Robotics Coach; Roll Call: Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mrs. Tucker seconded by Mr. Schoenegge, to hire JoAnn Rutger, Bus Aide for the 2023-2024 school year; Roll Call: Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mr. Hula seconded by Mr. Schoenegge, to hire the following Substitute Bus Drivers for the 2023-2024 school year: Kelly Barrett, Larry Bales, Ron Chapman, Rhonda Neill, Mark Stacy and Lori Arnold; Roll Call: Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mrs. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Hula, to hire the following as Substitute Bus Aides for the 2023-2024 school year: Jennifer Kuns, Beverly Nicholson and Audra Rooker; Roll Call: Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mrs. Tucker, seconded by Mr. Hula, to hire the following as Substitute Custodians for the 2023-2024 school year: Jennifer Kuns and Rick Shellhammer; Roll Call: Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mr. Hula, seconded by Mr. Schoenegge, to enter Executive Session under R.C. 121.22(G)(5) for discussion of matters required to be kept confidential by state statutes; Roll Call: Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

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The Board entered Executive Session at 7:05 p.m. with Mrs. Keegan, and Mr. Kurt remaining in the Executive Session.

Motion by Mr. Hula seconded by Mr. Schoenegge, to return from Executive Session to open session; Roll Call: Mrs. Tucker: aye, Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Motion by Mr. Schoenegge seconded by Mr. Hula, to adjourn the meeting having no further business to come before the Board; Roll Call: Mr. Hula: aye, Mr. Schoenegge: aye, Mrs. Tucker: aye, and Mr. Sutorius: aye.

Adjourning at 7:45 p.m.

Next Regular Meeting will be Monday, August 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. at the Margaretta Board of Education, 305 S. Washington Street Castalia, Ohio.

Respectfully Submitted

_________________________ Brian Sutorius
Board President

______________________ Diane Keegan
Treasurer

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