November 2024 Regular Board of Education Meeting

Board Policy Section 0164

Legislative Liaison Report, November 18, 2024

The annual business meeting of the Ohio School Boards Association was held last Monday, November 11, Veterans Day.

Major Mike Antonas, Commander of the Ohio National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion spoke on behalf of Major General John Harris who is the Adjutant General  of the Ohio Army National Guard and the Ohio Air National Guard.  Major Antonas remarked that the Adjutant General is a member of the governor’s cabinet.  He stated that the Ohio National Guard numbers 10,000 soldiers and 5000 airmen.  The Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program pays 100% tuition for a state university and the equivalent for a pirate college as well as training in a trade program.  He emphasized the intrinsic value of service as part of the scholarship program.

The Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction Paul Craft spoke briefly.  He stated the eleven elected and eight appointed members of the state school board serve 1.6 million students and 360,000 licensed, permitted or certificated educators.  He introduced Ohio Teacher of the Year, Danee Pinckney from Twinsburg.

Rick Lewis, former chief executive officer of OSBA made an appearance to a rousing ovation and reported on his liver transplant in 2023 and spoke of the Lifeline of Ohio Donor Registration List.

The 396 delegates (of 705 member districts), debated and voted on three changes to the OSBA legislative platform.  The first change stated OSBA supports legislation that  ALLOWS DISTRICTS TO CHARGE FOR LABOR COSTS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED WITH RECEIVING AND FULFILLING A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST.  Current state law does not allow for the charging of staff time for fulfilling a public records request.  This addition passed.  

The second change to the platform stated OSBA supports legislation that REQUIRES SCHOOL TAX LEVY MONEY WHICH HAS BEEN VOTED UPON TO BE USED FOR THE FUNDING OF SCHOOLS BE EXEMPT FROM TAX INCREMENT FINANCING (TIF) ALLOWED UNDER orc 5709.40…  This addition passed with some additional wording.  Part of the discussion reported that 19.4 billion dollars of property in Ohio is tax abated representing 5.2% of all taxable property.  

Finally a floor amendment from Bath Local Schools was debated, discussed and partially clarified.  That amendment stated, OSBA supports legislation that EMPOWERS LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO APPOINT THE BEST QUALIFIED REPRESENTATIVES OF ITS JOINT VOCATIONAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD.  There was lack of clarity on whether a representative to a JVS school board could be removed mid-term by the local board.  This amendment failed.

Recommendation of Superintendent Gregory D. Nickoli that the following personnel recommendations be approved:

• Approve supplemental contracts for Certificated personnel
• Approve stipend contracts for Certificated personnel
• Approve employment of Substitute Instructors
• Approve employment of Career Coach
• Approve employment of Substitute Classified personnel
   

Recommendation of Superintendent Gregory D. Nickoli that the agreement between Pionner CTC Adult Education and ACEMAPP be approved.

Recommendation of Superintendent Gregory D. Nickoli that the agreement between Pioneer CTC Adult Education and Avita Health Systems be approved.

Recommendation of Superintendent Gregory D. Nickoli that the agreement between Pioneer CTC Adult Education and Brethren Care Village be approved.

Recommendation of Superintendent Gregory D. Nickoli that the agreement between Pioneer CTC Adult Education and Jag Healthcare, Inc. be approved.

Recommendation of Superintendent Gregory D. Nickoli that the agreement between Pioneer CTC Adult Education and Jag Healthcare Wooster Behavioral Health be approved.

Recommendation of Superintendent Gregory D. Nickoli that the agreement between Pioneer CTC Adult Education and Ohio Heath Corp. be approved.

Recommendation of Superintendent Gregory D. Nickoli that the agreement between Pioneer CTC Adult Education and The Willows at Willard be approved.