March 2023 Regular Board of Education Meeting

Treasurer Schumacher explained that Item 4.2 is the annual approval of the budget rates and amounts of property taxes.

No more questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

Treasurer Schumacher reported as follows:

We are now operating our normal business through Park National Bank.  All deposits and checks are happening through Park National.  We successfully ran our first payroll through Park National on the March 10 payroll.  We are getting closer to having our State revenues deposited into Star Ohio.  I thought we had it taken care of last week and now they are asking for a letter from Star Ohio with our banking information provided.  I am really, really hoping I can tell you next month that this has finally happened. Star Ohio is paying 4.83%.  PNC is paying 2.67% as of 2/28/23.

I received opinions from both legal counsel and an outside CPA firm concerning the

Management Letter comment on funds 070 and 003 and hopefully this will suffice.

Rea & Associates states, “Per review of the FINSUM we noted that the District maintained a 070 Fund that was established a number of years ago to accumulate funds for the District’s OFCC project which was completed in FY12 (with ongoing litigation as noted in the planning memo). We noted per review of the FINSUM the fund at the end of FY20 had a fund balance of $293,015.  We inquired with Linda Schumacher, Treasurer and reviewed the ledger noting the District is not currently accumulating additional funds to the 070 and has been utilizing the fund balance for expenditures in relation to the OFCC project (this was done at the time the fund was established). The District was utilizing the fund for the maintenance of the project however after reaching the $450,000 mark has started utilizing the funds to pay attorney fees for the ongoing litigation with the company who installed the initial HVAC system that was replaced during FY19 (deemed to be the nature of the fund based on original usage and ongoing project costs related to the original project). Since the District is still utilizing the funds for the initial contract that they entered into for the project and are not adding additional funding we determined no significant risk to determine when the fund was actually established. At the end of FY20 the HVAC litigation is still ongoing. We will reevaluate this at the conclusion of the HVAC litigation when the Board closes the fund.” 

The legal counsel states, “Fund 003 (Permanent Improvement)—A regular program of General Fund transfers to permanent improvement is appropriate for Pioneer, given the unique needs of vocational programs for on-going permanent improvements of real and personal property to keep pace with industry. While that is a “one-way street” in terms of flow of money, it is possible to restore money to the General Fund under RC 5705.14(B), even if unlikely to be needed.

Fund 070 (Capital Projects)—By contrast, a Capital Projects Fund under RC 5705.13(C) is oriented to a particular project rather than on-going permanent improvement needs. While it is easier to move monies back and forth between a Capital Projects Fund and the General Fund, the 10-year requirements on funding and use of Capital Projects Fund monies are likely too restrictive in the career center context.

I just spoke with Evan from Julian & Grube this afternoon and they are allowing both funds for the time being.  They completely understand the 070 fund its use and the fact that it will be closed when the project is closed. They are allowing the 003 fund due to the fact that most of those funds are used directly for Career Tech and would come from the Career Tech Weighted funding in the foundation payment and not from property tax funds.

The Budget Bill is in the House right now and is expected to move to the Senate in April.

According to Aaron Rausch at ODE, the Senate Finance Committee has a meeting scheduled for April 19 and the Senate Education Committee has a meeting scheduled for April 24.  We are finding out other pieces of the Governor’s proposal along the way.  The Sports Gaming Profits Education Fund (separate from the Lottery Education Fund and the Casino Education Fund) is proposed to be funded with $60 M over the biennium.  $15M each year to reduce or eliminate pay to play fees and $15M each year to support public and nonpublic school, The proposal also includes IT Support for Schools and Districts of $14.3M over the biennium.  School Resource Officer Funding - $390M over the biennium.  This is funding on a per building basis, all public and nonpublic buildings, opt in program, and funds can support existing SROs.  We are being told that if these funds are kept outside of the formula, they will be used strictly to fund the SRO.  Should it be included inside the formula, there might be broader usage of the funds.

Kara, Mindy, Jolene and I attended the BASA Women in Leadership Conference on March 9 & 10.  It was a very good conference with some excellent Keynote speakers.  On day one we heard from Sue Ramsey, former Ashland University Girls’ basketball head coach, on leadership and teamwork and the second day we heard a presentation from Meagan Johnson, Generational Expert, on “Zap the Generational Gap! Transforming, Recruiting, Retaining & Engaging Multi-Generational Teams”.  Well worth the time!

Concerning regular business for the month of February, we have only received two tax payments and that is from Huron County which was deposited into the correct account and Crawford which was deposited into the old Civista account. I have sent the change request to Crawford County again.  Usually we have received more collections by this time, but I was in a meeting last week and we were warned that now that the interest rates have gone up, the County Auditor’s will probably hang onto the money as long as they can.

The only Journal entry we have this month is the approval of the transfer of the 034 Maintenance funds of $425,360.

Pioneer's Emergency Operations Plan has been updated with the addition of our Behavioral Threat Assessment Plan. Per the requirements from the state of Ohio, our Threat Assessment Team certificates have been uploaded as well. Pioneer's new SRO will complete the Threat Assessment training and be added to our Threat Assessment Team.

Pioneer will participate in Ohio's statewide tornado drill this week.

Pioneer students in BPA, SkillsUSA and HOSA recently competed at state contests for their respective CTSOs.

3 students from BPA    qualified for the National BPA competition in Anaheim, California in April.

Pioneer's National Technical Honor Society will recognize 26 students in a ceremony on March 22nd @6:30pm.  Twelve new members will be inducted and fourteen 2-year members will be recognized.

Pioneer students have had the opportunity to partner with local business and industry during meetings and community outreach.

Cosmetology students at Elm Croft to do manicures for senior living residents.

The Air National Guard Cybersecurity Wing from Mansfield spoke to 100 students from four labs.

Ohio Health, Ashland University, Avita and Fisher Titus Medical Center have all spent time with Pioneer's Medical programs.

Pioneer will host our Spring Job Fair on Friday, March 22nd.  Junior and Senior students will have the opportunity to meet with area employers for post-graduation employment and also possible connections for juniors to secure Early Job Placement jobs for the summer and next school year.

2023-2024 student acceptance certificates were passed out to associate school counselors at the Spring Counselors Meeting on March 17th.  Enrollment numbers are exceptional and Pioneer's recruitment process was very successful. Student Services will continue to review applications throughout the remainder of the school year and place students where there are openings and space.

Mr. Grady held a discussion concerning HB1 and it's implications to schools and taxpayers.  He discussed the flat tax rate of 2.75%, the elimination of the 20% rollback and the reduction of valuation from 35% to 31.5%.    

On a very positive note, new student enrollment is extremely high this year.  The overall sophomore class that we are recruiting from continues to be smaller than in past years but our percentage of applications is growing. Currently, we have 830 (730 last year) applications which puts our projected enrollment at 1,349 for the 2023-2024 school year.  Thanks to our Student Services Department and to our entire staff for the outstanding job this year to prepare for our sophomore visitation experience.

I am recommending that you approve an agreement to serve as a training site for our Phlebotomy students with Shiloh Medical Services.  It is always exciting to partner with our local employers. 

03/22/23          - NTHS Induction Ceremony            

03/29/23          - All-Board Dinner

04/15/23          - Prom

04/21/23          - Community Service Day

04/26/23          - Honors’ Program

05/10/23          - Sophomore Orientation

05/12/23          - Senior Moments

05/19/23          - Student Appreciation Day

05/22/23          - Preschool Graduation

05/25/23          - Last Day for Juniors

05/25/23          - Adult Education Graduation

05/26/23          - Teacher Work Day

I am recommending that you employ Mr. Skyler Rose as our new Collision Repair Instructor.  Mr. Rose is a graduate of Pioneer and comes to us with outstanding experiences and references.  We are thrilled to be able to find someone so student-centered with his level of expertise

Additionally, I am excited to recommend Kevin Burke as our new Culinary Arts Instructor. Mr. Burke comes to us from Ashland University where he has led the award-winning Student-Dining Program.  His experiences in restaurants like the Ritz-Carlton in Washington DC and Ashland University’s Eagles Nest make him the ideal candidate from a very strong field of candidates.

I am also pleased to recommend 3-year contracts for Kris Kowalski, as our Director of Business Affairs and Jason Fortman as our Food Service Manager.  They continue to do an outstanding job on behalf of our students and staff.

Also, I would like to share with you that I have been in conversation with our Welding Instructor, Mr. Kip Stevens about the possibility of rehiring after retiring at the end of the 2022-2023 school year.  This would benefit Pioneer by allowing us to retain an outstanding lab instructor in a program that will be hard to fill.  We have negotiated provisions for this situation in our current Negotiated Agreement.  If we move forward, you will see the necessary actions reflected in upcoming Board Agendas.

Finally, I am recommending that you approve “Dock Leave” for Nita Walsh.  Nita is recovering from a procedure and has follow-up medical appointments.

All other personnel are common for this time of year.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.