March 2022 Regular Board of Education Meeting

Treasurer Schumacher explained 4.2 is the annual approval of the County tax rates.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

Treasurer Schumacher reported as follows:

We will be moving monies out of FC Bank, United Bank and US Bank to get those balances down to $25,000.  These three are the accounts we have at satellite locations for their convenience for making deposits.

Investments speak for themselves.

Fund 467 – SWSF –  We began the year with a balance of $452,480.48 and have spent to date a total of $92,111.26 leaving us a current balance of #371,652.01.  The expenses have been for the School Nurse and clinic supplies, Dr.Patten, Life Steps and Mr. Helbert’s attendance services.  This is the fund that needs to be spent down as soon as possible as new funds are coming through the new funding formula and recorded in the general fund.

Fund 070 – These were funds that Pioneer put aside from the General Fund before the renovation began to be used for Pioneer expenses.  If you remember, we took a few of the $25,360 transfers to the 034 Maintenance Fund from this fund and then when the remaining balance got to be about $450,000 we stopped taking those payments in case additional funds were still needed for the Project.  Those funds have been used for legal fees only since 2015.  Since July 1 of 2012, we have had legal fees of $223,832.42.  The balance now is $246,989.99.

ECE has $34,000 left to spend of their $52,000 allocation that I'm told they are to receive this year.

HS Perkins has $144,930 of their awarded $326,884 left to spend

AE Perkins has $12,371.30 of their awarded $13,836.59 left to spend and they have not invoiced or been paid for the $1,465.29 that they have expended.

HSTW has $50 remaining to spend.

We have been sifting through some of the new reports made available through ODE for the new funding formula.  I have glanced over but not had a chance to take a deep dive into the calculations.  Dan Burtscher and I still need to get together and see what questions we still need answered.

The annual transfer into the 034 Maintenance Fund is in the Journal Entries for your approval.

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      Director Frye reported as follows: 

• Sophomore Visitation has been completed and applications for the 2022 – 2023 school year are being processed.  A number of programs are full or filling up very fast with overall numbers of applications at or above expected counts.  We look forward to an outstanding finish to this school year and are very optimistic for next year as well.
• Performing Arts senior Zavier Alterio was honored as Pioneer’s representative at the Franklin B. Walter Scholarship program on March 8^th. 
• The 2021 – 2022 class of National Technical Honor Society was inducted on Monday, March 21^st.  17 juniors completed the application and screening process and were inducted.
• Over 70 local employers attended the Pioneer Student Job Fair on Friday, March 18^th.  Students completed and revised their resumes in English classes in preparation for the event and feedback received from employers was very positive.
• Pioneer’s Emergency Operations Plan has gone through the review process that is required to be completed every 3 years.  The plan has been signed by staff, parents and local emergency response personnel.  Our E.O.P. has been reviewed and has been approved by the state.

• One student from Pioneer’s chapter of Business Professionals of America qualified for the National Contest in Dallas, TX in May.  The student will compete at the National Contest representing Pioneer and Ohio.  Congratulations to Mr. Dan Foss, IT Instructor and BPA Advisor and Congratulations to Collin Dingus, junior in IT Support from Crestview High School!
• Pioneer Prom is scheduled for Saturday, March 26^th from 7:30pm – 10:30pm and this year’s theme is “Luau”.  Students have been working hard in preparation and we look forward to a great evening. 

Mr. Grady discussed some current bills in the Ohio Legislature including HB126, which modifies the procedure when a school district challenges a property tax valuation.  The Senate made changes and the  House denied those changes, SB181 which establishes restrictions on religious wear during athletics and HB 458 which eliminates August special elections except for US House nomination.   The Board also held a discussion concerning HB29, the Backpack Bill.  Alot of concern was shared on this bill.

Superintendent Nickoli reported as follows:

On a very positive note, new student enrollment is extremely high this year.  The overall sophomore class that we are recruiting from is smaller than in past years but our percentage of applications remains high. Currently, we have 730 (655 last year) applications which puts our projected enrollment at 1,284 for the 2022-2023 school year.  Thanks to our Student Services Department and to our entire staff as we have adjusted our timeline this year.  The whole staff and student body worked very hard and did an outstanding job this year to prepare for our sophomore visitation experience.

We have had some movement in our HVAC replacement project in the past month.  I have been requested to give a statement this Thursday in Columbus.

I am recommending that we return our Regular Board Meetings to the Board Conference Room beginning with the Regular April Board Meeting.  Given the low incidence of Covid-19 cases we can return to our regular location.

We occasionally need a translator to help communicate to some of the parents of our students.  This service works by conference call and has dozens of languages available although we will primarily utilize their Spanish translation service.  There is a $250 set-up/training fee and a $1.75 per minute fee for use.  This isn’t necessarily something that we will us a great deal but it does offer better communication for our students and their families.  We will pay for this out of our ESL funding.   

• March 26 - Prom
• March 31 - Pioneer All-Board Dinner
• April 27               - Awards Night
• May 6                  - Senior Moments

It is with a heavy heart that I recommend you accept the resignation of Mike Cauley, Colonel Crawford Satellite Instructor.  Mike has been in education for over 40 years and has been a tremendous asset to Pioneer and to the Colonel Crawford Schools.  He will be greatly missed.  On a side note, we are renaming our annual Cardboard Boat Regatta in his honor. 

I am recommending that you employ Jeffrey Evans as our combined Auto Tech/Construction Level 1 Instructor.  Mr. Evans comes to us from the Wyandott County Board of Developmental Disabilities.  We are thrilled to be able to find someone so student-centered with his level of expertise

I am also recommending that you hire Rich Ulmer and Tina Parr as Intervention Specialists.  Mr. Ulmer comes to us from the Galion City Schools where he has successfully served for a number of years and Ms. Parr comes to us from Lexington where she has been an intervention specialist for 4 years.

Finally, I am excited to recommend Peter Schmitt to you as a math instructor.  Mr. Schmitt comes to us from the Mansfield City Schools and the Mid-Ohio ESC by way of Abraxas.  Both his unshakeable demeanor and his extensive math knowledge make him the ideal candidate from a very strong field of candidates.

Additionally, I am pleased to recommend 3-year contracts for Clay Frye, Director of Operations; Jolene Young, Assistant Director, High School; Don Paullin, Assistant Director, Adult Education; Matt Parr, Satellite Supervisor; and Jeremiah Howe and Dan Slaughter, Career-Technical Supervisors.

All other personnel are common for this time of year.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

Entered into Executive Session at 8:17 pm.  Returned to Regular Session at 8:27 pm.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.