Board Member Smith asked why we support other schools levy attempts.  Other members of the Board shared that it is a courtesy to our Partner Boards in support of their efforts to educate our children.  It was pointed out that the Pioneer board always makes a resolution of support for all member district levy attempts.

No more questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

It’s been busy in our offices.  The auditors were in the week before last and are now working on finishing up the audit virtually.  I believe they have everything they need.  We have been scanning information to them all along and then they came in to finish up what we could not do online.  They plan to have the audit completed and filed by the beginning of November.

For the past two weeks, we have also been receiving training on the state software redesign and I am happy to say that we went live today!  We have chosen not to do dual entry as was suggested by our A-site.  They discovered that more and more A-sites were suggesting their schools not do dual entry.  We are the second NCOCC school who will not be using dual entry.  I am confident that the girls will learn quickly and we will hopefully not have any hiccups. The implementation of the software design fulfills both #1 and #2 of my personal goals.

Actually, personal goal #3 will be fulfilled next month when I present the five-year forecast.  We have switched forecast software this year.  We are now using K-12 Business Consulting.  Last year Public Finance Resources sold out to Forecast 5 Analytics.  At that point, the service went from $2,065 in 2018 to $3,090 in 2019 and in 2020, Forecast 5 was proposing $9,000 to $12,000.  Many, many schools use K-12 so I contacted them and was very happy with their proposal and helpfulness.  Their fee in 2020 is $6,500.00.

As far as September’s financials are concerned, it has been pretty quiet.  Investments are at a standstill.

I would like to talk a little bit about Food Service.  As you all know, breakfast and lunch is now free to all students.  We will be reimbursed $3.51 per lunch and $2.26 for breakfast.  While this looks good (we charge $3.00 for lunch and $1.25 for breakfast), we are still projecting a deficit in the Food Service Fund for FY21.  After speaking with Jason Fortman, food service director, neither of us is quite sure how this is going to play out in the end.  We receive more money per meal, but costs are rising.  Paper products are a big cost.  We must now use paper for everything. And the prices are rising.   Jason is watching closely what government food commodities are available at a lower price.  Hopefully, after a couple months of free meals, we can get a better idea of how this is all going to work out.

We have received all of the taxes except the Homestead and rollbacks from Richland County.  All expenses and revenues are in line with where they should be, so it really has been a quiet month for financials.

I just received word we will be having a virtual meeting on 10/29 to get updates on pipeline valuation challenges.

We have one journal entry to move some expense out of the general fund and into to the Safety Grant.

Superintendent Nickoli welcomed back Janet Kehres from the press.

Jessica Clark attended as EAP Representative.

Mr. Kowalski reported as follows:

1. Pioneer will ensure that all policies are followed in regard to all legal and ethical standards related to the Covid-19 guidelines as set for bystate and local authorities.   Held opening meeting with Satellite Instructors – emphasizing COVID Guidelines, Business Partners contacted for Customer Service safety procedures.

2. Pioneer staff and students will foster a compassionate, responsive and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supportedand empowered.  Dr. Patton coming in 4 days a week for student counseling and mental health, BOE Thank You/Hero sign collaboration between lab instructors Mr. Stephens, Mr. Brown, Mr. Dichtl and maintenance Mr. Payne, Pioneer Penguin Fund/United Way donations by staff, 2 students – Skills USA Regional Officer Screening test – virtual.

3. Pioneer will ensure the health, security and safety of all students and staff by responding to current best practices with local and stateagencies.  Mr. Vargyas Digitized seating charts – Lunch and Success Center, Mrs. Barr continues to serve on the Board of Richland County Safety Council. 8 students participated in AAA Safety Program in Zoom Meeting for input on Driving Videos with Highway Patrol.

4. Pioneer will incentivize innovation by challenging staff and students to step out of their normal setting in order to expose students to newand emerging trends and technology.   Use of Thrillshare/Apptegy and notification training. Additional PD to staff and counselors in technology based instruction. Mr. Vargyas drafted Pioneer CTC Innovation Grant Form.

5. Pioneer will sustain financial stability by optimizing current resources,exploring alternative resources, managing facilities to meet staff,students and community needs.  NTHS fundraiser – school spirit wear, Satellite programs CC 608 Drive Thru Barbeques meals, Wynford 900, Shelby FCS superhero capes donated Nationwide Hospital, Blankets donated to Project Linus to serve Foster Children in Ohio.

Board Member Grady shared vital COVID-19 statistics with the Board.  In conclusion, it was evident that schools, so far, are not a major factor in the spread of the virus.

Superintendent Nickoli reported as follows:

There have been significant changes in the Re-Opening Plans of several of our Districts since we have been able to look more closely at the data surrounding Covid-19 cases in our region.  Nearly all of our Districts, Pioneer included, opted to remain fully open when Richland County went to Level 3-Red a few weeks ago.  Those same Districts are now considering remaining open in Level 4-Purple if their local Health Departments deem is safe to do so.  I would like the same opportunity.  I am recommending that we use the same procedures in Purple that we have available in Red, i.e. that we have the option of remaining fully open, going to our hybrid plan, or going fully remote should Richland County change to Level 4-Purple. 

In order to allow our staff to meet family obligations throughout the declared pandemic I would like to offer any staff member who uses up their FFCRA Leave the opportunity to utilize Sick Leave for the items 4-6 in the FFCRA provision (they can already use Sick Leave for items 1-3).  Those items are:

 (4) is caring for an individual who is subject to an order described above in (1) or self- quarantine as described in (2);

(5) is caring for a child whose school or place of care is closed (or child care provider is unavailable) for reasons related to COVID-19; or

(6) is experiencing any other substantially-similar condition specified by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Labor.

After talking with Linda, I would like to recommend that we raise the rate of pay for our Substitute Teachers from $90.00/day to $115.00.  This will keep us competitive with area schools, especially since it is becoming more difficult to find quality subs during the pandemic.

As you may recall, our mediation session scheduled for last month was cancelled.  We are still in the process of identifying a date that is acceptable to all parties.  As of the emails this morning it looks like we will be into January before we find an acceptable date.

We have run into an issue with the replacement of the roof on our bus garage.  At our Punch List meeting the company that completed the replacement asked Pioneer to split the cost of some work that was erroneously done.  When the company first started the material application they inadvertently eliminated the slope on a section of the roof meaning that water would not run to the drains.  The correction took more materials and time.  They asked us to share in that cost. I have responded to our architect that we were not inclined to do so but wanted to run it by the Board before officially replying.  The only danger is that we end up in a lawsuit that costs legal fees.

Mr. Paullin has organized and received approval to conduct a Drive-Through Graduation for students who earned their diplomas and/or completed programs last Spring and Summer.  This will be a very brief ceremony at the high school entrance with little or no contact due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  Essentially, graduates will drive up, get out of their cars, be handed their diploma, have a picture taken, and then drive away.

Our Negotiated Agreement contains an October 1 deadline for determining eligibility for an eighth pay for our lab instructors.  This decision is based on lab enrollment.  Notably, our overall October 1 enrollment is actually up by 1 student over last year’s numbers.  I have seen a significant drop in Satellite enrollment.  After 3 straight years of increasing Satellite enrollment we are down 167 students this year.  That is not FTE’s that is total head count.  (It’s approximately 24 FTEs.)

We would like to lend our support to our Partner School Districts who have issues on the ballot on November 6^th.  The Galion City Schools have a renewal on the ballot so we wish them success on Election Day!!

Election Day

Just a reminder that Tuesday, November 3 is Election Day. 

The Ohio School Boards Association Capital Conference will be held November 7 – 10 virtually this year.  Please let me know at this meeting if you plan to attend so we can make reservations and get you login information.

All personnel items are common for this time of year.