August 2023 Regular Board of Education Meeting

Erin Stine arrived at 7:02 pm.

Superintendent Nickoli explained that Don and Glenna Plotts donated a one-time $500 scholarship in Howard Koons' name.

No more discussion or questions.  Sent to vote.

Treasurer Schumacher reported as follows:

We have started work on the GAAP conversion.  They are supposed to have the Financial statements done by the beginning of October.  It is usually mid-October, but I have let them know that I would like to have the GAAP conversion done in order for the Auditors to complete and submit the audit report to the State before I leave.

We have finally successfully closed both Civista and PNC bank accounts.  Interest revenue continues to grow, but should level out or even drop a little throughout the fiscal year.  Our Jefferson Health Plan reserve continues to be healthy at $1.93M.  I am anticipating a large charge in August as sometimes they wait to post large medication claims all at once.  I hope that is not the case, but they have done that before.

We are working on finalizing the GEER grant funds in August. The 499 Miscellaneous Grant fund for additional screens for the new security system will be paid in August.  So, we should then be down to just our regular Perkins, ECE and ECF grants.

I would like to share with you a quick rundown on what we know so far for the Fair School Funding Plan payments.

The only change in the August payment is the only part of the FSFP is the jump to 50% phase-in.  The October payments (probably November or December for Career Techs) will contain the remainder of the changes. – FY22 inputs, updated valuation and income data to FY22, current year enrollment and any other formula changes.

The statewide base cost per pupil for FY24 of the average is $8,241 and will be used for us for the calculation of supplemental weights such as special education and English Learners.  The statewide average career-tech base cost for FY24 is $9,726 and is used for the calculation of CTE weighted funds.  That is the amount used for all CT, even for traditional schools.

As discussed before, the $300 million dollars for career tech made is into the budget.  $200M for facilities and $100M for equipment.  There were applications for $469M for facilities monies and only $200M budgeted.  The committees are working on this and we should no more this fall.  Same with the equipment – no guidelines have been issued yet.

We will continue to receive the Career Awareness monies and will continue to use those monies to provide Career Coaches to our districts.  The credential reimbursement program has been continued.  There is $32M available, but ODE believes that is not going to be enough.  Therefore, the $1,250 reimbursement may have to be prorated.

The Student Wellness and Success Funds have been continued as a part of the foundation payment.  A major change is that we must spend 50% of these funds for mental and physical healthcare services.  Previously there was not a mandated percentage.  We have spent all of our existing funds that had remained in the 467 Fund, and we will need to spend FY23 by 6/30/24.  Any new funds are only able to be rolled over for one year.

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Jolene Young reported as follows:

Board of Education goal setting took place on August 4th. After a great morning of discussion and reports from Pioneer’s Strategic Planning teams, the attached goals were established for the 2023-2024 school year.

Pioneer had a very successful Welcome Week from August 9th - 11th:

    965 students attended which represents over 80% of our students who attended

    Over 500 chromebooks were distributed to first year students

    Record amounts of student fees were collected

Students and parents were able to complete all paperwork for the start of school, have ID photos taken, pick-up their Campus Wear and complete vision/hearing screening

Pioneer’s Opening of School and Staff Training days were very successful. 

Junior’s first day concluded with a Field Day of team building activities for students to get to know their new classmates. All students were treated to a cookout and ice cream served by members of the administrative team.

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Superintendent Nickoli reported as follows:

We had an absolutely outstanding start to our year. The Administrative Staff put together what proved to be an outstanding return to school protocol.  Welcome Week, our first three teacher days and the first 3 days of school were as smooth and well-organized as any I can remember.  Our returning staff hit the ground running and our new staff are off to a tremendous start.  You should be very proud of the work everyone has done to make the start of the 2023-2024 school absolutely amazing.

Friday, August 4^th the Administrative Team was joined by Mr. and Mrs. Theaker, Mr. Hope, and Mr. Grady for our annual Board Goalsetting Session.  They heard reports on our Strategic Planning process and crafted outstanding goals for the 2023-2024 school year.

I am asking that you approve several Memorandums of Understanding with our Partner Districts for Career Coaching services.  As of this year, Pioneer is contracting directly with our Partner Districts to provide Career Coaches to districts at their request.  In the past, Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center has contracted with them and we have contracted with Mid-Ohio to employ the Coaches.  To make the process simpler, we would like to contract directly with Districts. 

I am asking that you approve the attached revision to this year’s school calendar.  The change is a language change based on rules passed in the recent Budget Bill.  In that bill, Blizzard Bag Days were eliminated and replaced with Online Learning Days.  We are required to present our plan to you prior to implementing them so we will present that plan as a part of Mr. Frye’s report at the September Board Meeting.  As a reminder, Online Learning Days are on days 6, 7, & 8 after we have used 5 calamity days.

I am recommending that you approve a resolution recognizing Sky Climber LLC of Delaware, Ohio for their generous donation of steel and a mill valued at a total of $38,957.00.  On a side note, the son of one of the Sky Climber representatives is a Junior in our Welding Program.I am recommending that you approve a contract with Life Steps Counseling Services for the 2023-2024 school year.  This is a contract that we have had for the last several years.

I am also recommending that you approve two contracts with Eric Spencer for e-rate services.  There are two different contracts because one is for Internet Access and the other is for Internal Connection Components and Connections.  These are services that have been contracted for in the past through NCOCC so this is our first year of contracting directly with Mr. Spencer.

With great regrets, I am recommending that you accept the retirement resignation of my secretary, Becki Kimmel.  Becki was hired at the April Board Meeting in 1988.  She initially started as the Board of Education Receptionist before moving to our Student Services Office.  She then moved back to the Board Office as the Superintendent’s Secretary in 2009.  I can assure you that she is as dedicated an employee as Pioneer has ever had and will be dearly missed.  We wish her the best as she now has more time to spend with her daughters and their families, especially her grandchildren.

All other items are common for this time of year.

September 22                - Staff Professional Development Day

October 5 & 6               - RMC Manufacturing Days

October 5 & 12             - Parent-Teacher Conferences

October 13                                - End of 1st Grading Period

I am passing around sign-up sheets for the September 21 OSBA Central Region Fall Conference and the November 12-14 OSBA Capital Conference.  In order to secure a hotel room, please let Becki know by Friday, September 8 if you would like to stay overnight.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.

No questions or discussion.  Sent to vote.