February 2025 Regular Board of Education Meeting

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Treasurer Bazley reported as follows:

I mentioned last month about the interest receipts being posted a month behind and fixing that since we get our statements electronically now and have them before we close the month. We made that switch this month, so the interest amount for the Star and Park National accounts are December and January interest earned. Going forward it will look more normal and the interest on these reports will be for the month just ended rather than a month in arrears.

We are now 7 months through the fiscal year and our general fund is tracking in line with estimates. The $44,863 is a big number due to the tractor that we sold via govdeals. Our Other State Funding is the Casino receipts we receive from the state. Interest has exceeded what was estimated for the year, I might have overestimated the action the Fed would take in rates.

The only Journal Entry we have for your approval is to fix an expense that went to the Crestline FCS Ed Supply and should have gone to the Crestline FCCLA account.

I’ve also attached the Draft Audit Report. They are still waiting on the report from JHP before they finalize everything, but the only thing that may have to change from this Draft report to the final are dates. They heard back from the AOS that as long as there was a well-reasoned explanation on how it was recorded it would be acceptable, so there is no adjustment needed for the Career Tech Expansion funds. The last page is the Schedule of Findings/Summary of Auditor’s Results. Showing there was no material weakness in internal control, material noncompliance, we are a low risk auditee, and we had no findings. The Management Letter comment we briefly talked about. Essentially what happened is when the original estimated receipts for Fiscal Year 2024 were entered the unencumbered balance for the general fund was also entered into the state software system when it shouldn’t have been. That issue has already been corrected. Evan stated that if the Board were interested in an exit conference he could be available on site or via zoom to explain the audit results.

We will do the required maintenance transfer ($425,360) from the general fund to the maintenance fund (034) related to the renovation, and will have that as a journal entry for you to approve in next month’s financial report. Then I have to go into the Ohio Auditor website and certify that we did the transfer.

Governor DeWine released his budget, which included the final two years of the Fair School Funding Plan phase in, but froze the cost inputs at FY22 levels, which lowers the state share and their total cost for school funding. The hope is that as it goes through this process our advocacy can get the inputs updated, but it’s hard to know what the legislature will do with all the school voucher talk still happening. DeWine’s budget also called for the reduction of funding for schools on the guarantee, with 95% the first year and then down to 90% the second year. Hopefully with Governor DeWine including the plan it’ll make it easier for it to be in place for the next biennial budget.

Director Frye reported as follows:

Sophomores from each of Pioneer’s partner schools visited during Sophomore Visitation on January 28th and 29th. Following visitation, Sophomore Open House was on January 30th and was very well attended. Student applications for the 2025-2026 school year have been steady, and as of Friday, February 14th, we are slightly ahead of last year’s count. We are currently reviewing over 700 student applications and we will begin placement on February 28th. Pioneer’s teachers, counselors, administrators and support staff have been invaluable in a very successful sophomore recruitment season.

Pioneer Carpentry instructor Justin Tuttle and Supervisor Jeremiah Howe recently met with Habitat for Humanity. We hope to form a partnership so Pioneer Carpentry students will have the opportunity to volunteer and assist on a house build starting this Fall. 

Special Education updates and changes- Internal Monitoring Team and Legislative Seminar attendance.

Ohio Educational Technology Conference- 7 staff members attended. Will present/share with staff during March 7th inservice day.

Mr. Grady reported as follows:

Governor Mike DeWine unveiled his executive budget proposal Monday, declaring his final investment priorities as a term-limited governor. Of particular interest to education advocates, the executive budget proposal:  

Funds the continued phase in of years 5 and 6 of the Fair School Funding (FSF) formula;  

Reduces the FSF formula guarantees to 95% in FY26 and 90% in FY27;  

Continues state investments in school choice programs at levels similar to the current ones;  

Dedicates $10 million over the biennium to the Ohio Principal Apprenticeship Program established in Senate Bill (SB) 168 of the 135th General Assembly;  

Earmarks $12 million in lottery funds for Science of Reading literacy coaches and requires schools with low rates of proficient readers to focus more funding on literacy supports; 

Invests $30 million over the biennium to create a new school bus safety grant program based on the recommendations of the Governor’s Ohio School Bus Safety Working Group, providing $4 million to increase the annual bus driver training requirement from four to six hours and widening access to advanced driver training; 

Two recommendations of the School Bus Safety Working Group are specifically addressed in House Bill 3, The Ohio School Bus Safety Act. One being a fund to make grants available to school districts to improve safety features on school buses including seat belts.

Invests $7 million in each fiscal year in competitive grants to support career planning and workforce readiness initiatives for K-12 students;  

Increases the Community School Facilities per pupil amount from $1,000 to $1,500; 

Creates the Driver Training in Schools Grant Program at the Department of Public Safety, funded by non-medical marijuana sales tax revenue, for school districts to fund driver’s education at their high schools;  

Continues the administration's work on school-based health, expanding the number of school-based health centers in high-need counties and providing resources and technical support to these health centers across the state, and; 

Invests $50 million over the biennium to create a new vision services program, OhioSEE, which would ensure that K-3 students who fail vision screenings receive comprehensive eye exams and glasses, if needed.  

Senate Bill 93, introduced by State Senator Andrew Brenner of Delaware County,  declares the General Assembly's intent to establish a new school financing system based on a single statewide property tax and increased state sales tax.  This will eliminate each district's ability to levy property and income taxes.  This bill has no co-sponsors.

Superintendent Nickoli reported as follows:

RE-APPOINTED BOARD MEMBERS

It’s my pleasure to echo Mr. Theaker’s welcome back to Board Members Bill McFarland and Erin Stine both appointed by the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center.

LEGISLATIVE SEMINAR

The Ohio Association for Career-Technical and Adult Education (ACTE) hosted the annual legislative seminar this year.  Gavyn Bazley, Clay Frye, Don Paullin and I met with Richland County Representative Marilyn John, Crawford County Representative Riordan McClain and the Staff in Senator Mark Romanchuk’s Office.  They are all very supportive of Career Technical Education and our district and are very understanding of the impact that Career and Technical Education has on the economy. 

PERFORMING ARTS ADJUNCT CONTRACTED SERVICE

I am recommending that you approve a contract for services with Seth Morrison for our Performing Arts Program.  He has extensive experience on the technology side of performances, especially at the Renaissance Theater where he often runs their sound and light boards for shows.

AGREEMENT WITH APPTEGY, INC.

This resolution is to approve a contract addendum with Apptegy, Inc.  They are the software provider that supports Pioneer’s phone app and webpage.  This keeps us in compliance with the recently enacted Senate Bill 29 which prevents software providers from distributing student information.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CRESTLINE EVSD

I am recommending that you approve a Memorandum of Understanding with the Crestline Exempted Village Schools to provide a middle school career exploration class.  It mirrors the agreement that we have with the Wynford Local Schools.  Satellite Supervisor Matt Parr and I met with the Crestline Superintendent and Middle School Principal on Friday, February 7^th to finalize plans and begin preparing for the 2025-2026 school year.

UPDATED POLICY ADOPTION

I am asking that you approve the Bylaw and Policy changes presented to the Board for review at the January Regular Meeting. You might recall that the language changes largely reflect current practices and that policy changes were financial in nature.  Mr. Bazley and I worked together to ensure that we were both comfortable with the changes. 

SPECIAL EDUCATION MODEL POLICY ADOPTION

Recently enacted legislation has required Joint Vocational School Districts to adopt the Department of Education and Workforce Model Special Education Policies.  In some instances, these policies have created significant differences in how we may be required to respond to some Special Education services and may require us to change the way we operate as it relates to serving our Special Needs students.  Mr. Frye, Jennifer Magers, our Special Education Coordinator and I are working to better understand the necessary changes as well as stay current on any additional changes that may come our way.

ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION FOR A DONATION

As is the practice of the Board, I am recommending that you approve a resolution of appreciation of $24,000 worth of fire equipment for use in our new First Responders Program.  We will send a notification of Pioneer’s appreciation for this very generous donation.

2025-2026 CALENDAR FOR REVIEW

I am providing you with a draft copy of the proposed 2025-2026 calendar for the high school.  This proposal is in compliance with both the Ohio Department of Education requirements and our current Negotiated Agreement.  We have met the requirement to provide public input into the calendar and I will bring it back to you at the March Board Meeting for your approval.

ADOPT RESOLUTION FOR APPROVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT TO ACCEPT RESIGNATIONS ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

Previously, for an employee’s resignation to be effective and irrevocable, it was required that the Board act upon it.  This resolution will allow me to full accept employee resignations on behalf of the Board resulting in the administration being able to more efficiently fill vacancies.  You will be notified at the next available Board Meeting of any resignations.

CALENDAR ITEMS

• • OSBA Central Region Spring Conference – March 19
• • Pioneer All-Board Dinner – March 26
• • Spring Break – April 14-18

PERSONNEL

I am requesting that you approve the voluntary transfers of Fritz Fagan from IT Support Instructor to Cybersecurity Instructor and Josh Broughton from Technology Field Technician to IT Support Instructor.  They will both be outstanding in these new roles. 

I am also asking that you accept the retirement resignations of Vickie Hunt, Career Development Coordinator and Lynette Moritz, Media Communications Instructor, Sherry Young, Support Secretary, and Kathy Sabourin, Student Services Secretary.  They have all dedicated many years of service to Pioneer and their experience and commitment is greatly appreciated.  They will be honored at a reception by the Education Association of Pioneer later this Spring.

Also, we have started the process to rehire two of our very outstanding instructors.  Bill Dichtl, Graphic Arts Instructor and the aforementioned Lynette Moritz, Media Communications Instructor have expressed an interest in returning to their former positions.  This requires that we permit public comment on the decision at the March Board Meeting before acting on the recommendation at the April Meeting.  This item will be included as an agenda item at the March meeting.

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

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No discussion - Moved to vote. Entered into executive session at 6:50.

President Douglas Theaker brought the Board back into regular session at 7:25 pm.

No discussion - Moved to vote.