No questions. No discussion.  Sent to vote.

Treasurer Schumacher reported as follows:

Our GAAP conversion is complete.  We expected the State Auditor to be in our office last week, but it never got scheduled.

There is really not a lot happening on the October Financial statements.  We spent about $16,000 out of the Student Wellness and Success Fund.  That included the School Nurse, Attendance Monitor, Secretary to the School Nurse and mental health services for the month.  If we continue just these expenses throughout the school year, we will have spent $128,000 out of the SWSF and have a remaining balance of about $300,000.  We need a plan to spend more of this down. 

We are a bit over budget on the salaries due to personal day pay being paid in the first pay of October.  Everything should get back on track.  Our negotiated agreement provides for Personal Leave Pay for 0 hours used = 1 day’s pay at per diem rate, 1-7 (8 for classified) hours used = .75 day’s pay at per diem rate and more than 7 (8 for classified) hours used = .5 day’s pay at per diem rate.

We have one journal entry for some water bottles that were originally purchased with marketing funds and eventually sold by distribution.

Five-year forecast

As we have discussed before, we are not sure of the outcome of the implementation of the new school funding formula, so we have compiled this five-year forecast as best we could with the information we have at this time.  Deficit spending begins (as usual) in the fourth year of the forecast, but we still have a good cash balance at the end of the forecast.

“This five-year forecast is being filed during the ongoing global health and financial recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic which began in early 2020. The effects of the pandemic continue to impact our state, country and our globalized economy. Our school district plays a vital role in the recovery in our community and we have maintained continuity of services to our students and staff.   While increased inflation impacting district costs are expected to continue over the next few years, the economy is also expected to continue to grow as the recovery from the pandemic continues.

As a result, from the financial stresses that responding to the pandemic placed on school district budgets, all career centers are being aided by two (2) rounds of Governors Emergency Relief Fund (GEER) which began being disbursed in fiscal year 2020 and can be extended into fiscal year 2022.

Data and assumptions noted in this forecast are based on the best and most reliable data available to us as of the date of this forecast.”

The same risks and uncertainties we discussed for the May, 2021, apply to this forecast.  These being the difficulty of determining increases and decreases in property values in eight different counties, the appeal of the Rover Pipeline (which is scheduled to be heard on May 9, 2022), and the complexities of the state funding.

“The taxing authorities billed Rover based on a valuation established by the Ohio Department of Taxation. Rover’s first appeal to lower this valuation by 47% was denied. Rover has made payments based on the appealed valuations, which in tax year 2020 was approximately $90 million lower than the value established by the Ohio Department of Taxation. Since the pipeline began making payments based on the decreased valuation in FY20, the school district has received approximately $790 thousand less than billed. Rover has submitted a second appeal requesting values to be decreased to 38%, and the forecast assumes their appeal is won and the district only receives the lower 38% valuation. The appeal is scheduled to be heard by the Bureau of Tax Appeals beginning May 9, 2022. If the appeal is denied, the district will receive delinquent tax payments for the amounts owed by Rover. This is not assumed in the calculations of this forecast at this time.”

 Line 3.010.  This line of the forecast is made up primarily of wages or salaries paid to staff. Substitutes and supplemental extracurricular contracts, as well as payments for the Board of Education can also be found here. The forecast reflects base increases of 2% in FY22-23, 2.25% in FY24, and 2% in FY25-26. Also included is 3% step increases in FY22-26 for planning purposes only at this time. Administration and non-represented staff typically will see a similar increase as the collective bargaining contract. However, these are reviewed on a yearly basis. The district will continue to monitor the staffing levels to effectively manage the largest expense for our district. The increases above align with the newly approved negotiated agreement that is in place for FY22-24. The new agreement also includes $500, one-time payments, to members of the bargaining unit. The district will negotiate in the spring of 2024 when this contract ends.

Line 3.02.  At this time, we are estimating an increase of 4.7% for FY22 and 8% for FY23-26, which reflects trend, and the likely increase in health care costs as a result of actual claims incurred. This is based on our current employee census and claims data.

Purchased Services and Supplies and Materials both include a 3% increase. 

Lines 4.05 and 4.06 are principal and interest payments on our COPS issues.  The 2008 COPS issue will be paid off on December 1.

As always, on the last page, you will see our ending cash balance in True Cash Days.  According to this forecast we will have 260 true cash days at the end of the FY 26.  In the May forecast we showed 212 true cash days.

none

Anne Kurtzman represented the EAP.

Director Frye reported as follows:

Student Excellence and Achievement

• Students at Pioneer are beginning state testing in both academics and labs.  Students will take Ohio’s State Tests for academic subject areas beginning December 2^nd and students have started taking their WebXam Assessments in labs.  Lab scores on WebXams that have been completed have been excellent.

Educational Experiences for Success and Competitive Advantage for Students

• Pioneer hosted our Veterans Day assemblies on Thursday, November 11^th.  Mr. Prater and Mr. Theaker were guest speakers at the assemblies.  Students from Performing Arts, Homeland Security, Criminal Justice, National Technical Honor Society and various other labs assisted with the ceremony.
• Pioneer’s E-Sports Club qualified for the Ohio Regional Contest that will take place on Saturday, 11/20/2021 at Lourde’s College in Sylvania, Ohio.
• Pioneer students and staff will share a Thanksgiving Luncheon on Tuesday, 11/23 before Thanksgiving Break.  Pioneer’s Meat and Animal Science program will assist in preparing the turkey for the dinner which will include a full Thanksgiving menu- turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie- and Pioneer’s Administrative team will help serve.

Communication and Community Advocacy

• Pioneer hosted our annual Live and Learn program with 15 staff members from our associate schools in attendance.  Associate school staff were welcomed at Pioneer with a tour of the building and then each attendee visited 3 labs where they made hands-on projects with students.  This is an important program to help associate school staff understand what Pioneer has to offer so they can have discussions with students at each of their associate schools.

Engagement and Opportunities in the Community

• Pioneer continues to be active in our communities:
  • Welding students have worked with Crestline to repair a metal train structure for one of the city parks in Crestline
  • A community member was referred to Pioneer’s Precision Machining program to help make interior handles/knobs for a 1931 Franklin that are not able to be purchased anymore- the students were able to fabricate the parts successfully

Safe, Healthy and Functional Facilities that are Fiscally Responsible

• Currently the COVID numbers at Pioneer are low.  We continue to practice Social Distancing, sanitizing and our policies for contact tracing are in line and updated regularly.

Mr. Grady reported that he attended the delegates business meeting at Capital Conference and the Governor gave a very interesting speech.

Mr. Prater lead a discussion about OSBA leaving NSBA.

Superintendent Nickoli reported as follows:

A Records Commission Meeting was held prior to the Board of Education Meeting Monday evening starting at 5:15 pm.  The persons scheduled to attend were Doug Theaker, Board President; Greg Nickoli, Superintendent; Linda Schumacher, Treasurer; and Kara Rowlinson, Assistant Treasurer.  We reviewed the records that are outdated and can be destroyed.

A Finance Committee Meeting was held at 5:30 pm prior to the Board of Education Meeting.  At this meeting we reviewed the five (5) year forecast.  The persons scheduled to attend are:  Doug Theaker, Board President; Margie Prater, Board Member; Bill Hope, Board Member, Greg Nickoli, Superintendent; and Linda Schumacher, Treasurer.

We have currently used 7 hours of Calamity Day time meaning that we have 1,138.5 hours above our required 1,001 calendar hours.  As in the past, we will use the first five calamity days (we have used one) in the traditional “Snow Day” manner.  Days 6, 7, and 8 will be Blizzard Bag Days in accordance with the ODE approved procedure.  Any days beyond day 8 will be made up at the end of the current school calendar year.

As in past years, I am suggesting that we move our January Organizational and the regular January meeting to a date near the middle of the month.  Last year, we opted to move the meetings to January 13.  I’d suggest we move this year’s January meeting to January 12.  Please check your calendars so we can decide on the best date for the organizational meeting at our regular December meeting.

Our Social Studies Department and several programs did an excellent job remembering our veterans the week of Veterans Day.  This past Thursday, Mrs. Robin Hager organized an outstanding event.  I am proud to report that our students were not only well-behaved but also showed great reverence for the service of our Veterans.  Thank you to Mr. Theaker and Mr. Prater for attending and speaking to our students the event. 

Our Cafeteria Staff, assisted by several other staff members, will be providing a Thanksgiving Luncheon, complete with Turkey, Mashed Potatoes, Stuffing, Green Beans, a roll, and Pumpkin Pie to our students on November Tuesday, November 23^rd.  The cafeteria and arena will be decorated with colorful placemats and centerpieces throughout.  Last year, the reaction of our students was priceless and made the extra work well worth the effort.

Our Annual Holiday Open House will be, December 17^th, from 7:30 am – 9:30 am in the Pioneer Room.  We hope you will be able to join us for some holiday cheer!

All personnel recommendations are common for this time of year. 

No questions.  No discussion.