December 2023 Regular Board of Education Meeting

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Treasurer Bazley reported as follows:

Nothing groundbreaking in the financials this month. Interest is continuing to pay well. The State Foundation funding should now be operating based on our most recent enrollment data. This year is being paid at 50% of the implementation cost, this is year 3 of 6 of the original phase in plan.

Carolyn Cline, our new payroll clerk has started with us as of 12/4/2023. She seems to be learning rather quickly and picking up on our processes. Being able to bring someone in who already knows the software and just has to learn our internal processes is a huge advantage and lessens the learning curve from having to train someone brand new to payroll in a school district setting. I am confident she will be a wonderful addition to our fiscal staff and Pioneer as a whole.

Last month we discussed the transfer of the $282,179.45 worth of interest from the 010 into the 003. That is included on the Financial Report for journal entries this month. Last month we discussed leaving the $480,000 for the local share of the upcoming OFCC Career Technical Construction program in the 010 fund with a special cost center. While completing the acceptance paperwork the OFCC told us we had to leave it in 001 or put into 003 with a special cost center and it couldn’t be in the 010 (even though those are still local funds left in there). We decided to transfer the $480,000 within the 003 to a special cost center 9000 to track our local share of this project and comply with OFCC to complete the agreement, which is now finalized. We are officially onto the next step in the process of securing an architect. The other journal entries involve moving a ready room expense to the Homeless Grant and moving the Girl’s Restroom Dispensers from the Maintenance Fund to the General Fund.

The latest on HB187 is an amendment being introduced that will replace the year average provision with an expansion of the Homestead exemption. The new Homestead exemption would allow a $30,000 benefit for those below the $36,100 income limit and then a declining curve up to $75,000. The current exemption is 100% reimbursed by the state, the new amendment is expected to include a split of 50-50 between school districts and the state for the expanded exemption.

We’re asking for your approval the Talent and Ready Grant, this is similar to the Short Term Certification that we have received in the past. It is for workforce credential and certificate programs under thirty credit hours or less than 900 clock hours and to provide additional support to short-term certificate programs.

We have received the 25% portion for the OFCC Career Tech Construction grant from the state. The remaining 75% will be distributed prior to the bidding phase once the design process has been finalized.

We will ask you to pass a Resolution of Commendation for Linda shortly, but I wanted to take a moment and personally thank her for believing in me and championing me to take over as her successor and taking the past month and a half to help me learn and have the tools I need to succeed, it speaks to who she is professionally as well as personally. I would like to wish her a Happy Retirement!

Treasurer Schumacher reported the FY23 audit is now complete.  Only one sight was noted that the transfer from the general fund to the 034 fund for facility maintenance was not reported to the Treasurer of State.  That being said, the FY23 is complete and is another clean audit.   

Superintendent Nickoli reported as follows:

The Holidays are such a special time of year and as we near them, we want to take a moment to thank you for your support and dedication to our students and staff!  We hope you have time to relax and enjoy time with your family and friends!! 

We are currently awaiting submission on our recently posted Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for design firms.  Those are due by 3:00pm on Wednesday, December 20^th.  Upon receiving those submissions, we will review and select the most qualified to recommend to the Board at our Regular January Board Meeting.  Also, we received a phone call today from Chris Collato of Resource International who will serve as our Regional representative to the OFCC.  We are in the process of scheduling a call after our January Board Meeting.

It has been customary, in past years, to have the past Board of Education President serve as the President Pro-Temp at the Organizational Meeting in January. That being said, I would like to recommend that you elect Mr. Theaker to serve in that capacity.  Given the required timeline for our Construction Project, I would like to recommend that we hold both our Organizational Meeting and the Regular January Meeting on Monday, January 22^nd.  That will permit time to select and negotiate a contract with the successful Design Team while still leaving time should it be needed for any reason to meet the 60 day timeline outlined in our Construction Grant Agreement.

I am asking that you approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Clear Fork Valley Local for Career Coaching services.  We have hired Mr. Rick Beans, a retired counselor at Clear Fork to serve the students of Clear Fork in this capacity.  Mr. Beans has held this position for several years and has done an outstanding job in this capacity and we are very fortunate to have him serve the staff and students of the Clear Fork Valley Local Schools.

I am asking the Board to approve a resolution recognizing Linda Schumacher for her 12 years of service to the students and staff at Pioneer Career and Technology Center.  We recently received notice that Pioneer will again receive a clean audit thus marking a perfect record for Pioneer under Linda’s fiscal guidance and leadership.  She has done an outstanding job and her expertise will be greatly missed.

I am asking the Board to approve a resolution recognizing Spencer Shipman  for his 1 year of service to the students and staff of Pioneer as a Board Member.  As you know, he is resigning from the Board for personal and professional reasons. 

This position is appointed by the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center and I have been in contact with Kevin Kimmel, MOESC Superintendent about his replacement moving forward.

Calendar Items of note

• 12/21                                     - Holiday Open House
• 12/21                                     - Adult Education Winter Graduation            
• 12/22                                     - Start of Winter Break for High School
• 01/03                                    - Students and staff return from Winter Break
• 01/03                                     - Start of Second Semester

It is with great regret that I am recommending that you approve the retirement resignation of Mike Grimwood, Head of Maintenance.  Mr. Grimwood started at Pioneer as a high school student and maintained continuous employment until now.  He has been an invaluable member of the Pioneer Maintenance Team for over 40 years and his skillset and knowledge of the Pioneer facility is irreplaceable.  More importantly, while most don’t necessarily see it because he prefers to work behind the scenes, Mike has a heart for the students of Pioneer.  His crowning work has been the renovation of a classroom to make room for our sharing closet to benefit our students who have the greatest needs.

All other personnel items are common for this time of year.

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