November 2025 Regular Board of Education Meeting

No discussion - moved to vote.

Treasurer Bazley reported as follows:

Nothing groundbreaking with our financials for the month of October. Revenue and expenses are tracking with what was forecasted. The biggest differences in revenue between this point in the year last year are our real estate revenue and state foundation revenue. The biggest difference in expenses at this point in the year compared to last year is that our salaries and benefits are higher, purchased services are a little lower (CCP issue), supplies are higher (bought supplies for the newer labs), and we’re purchasing the equipment out of the general fund. We have a couple of journal entries for the month of October, to move a couple advisor registrations (the Board usually pays for) from the student activity fund to the general fund, moving some funds from the 007 to the general fund (a posting correction), and moving some expenses from the ECE grant to their rotary with a little difference in how we are spending that grant this year.

The Fed has lowered rates again, but our interest to continues to pay fairly well. We’re a little under $100k lower in interest earnings compared to last year, which makes sense with the Fed lowering rates multiple times over the past year.

A month ago, our county commissioners passed a resolution to piggyback on the owner occupancy credit for tax year 2026. They were one of 10 or 11 out of the 88 counties in Ohio that took such action. This is something that was put in the biennial budget bill to allow them to do so. The impact to us will be minuscule as it will result in a $20,855.46 revenue loss for us. It is much more detrimental to our partner/traditional districts in the county. This is something they will have to act on annually as far as whether they will piggyback the next year or not.

The state legislature passed four property tax measures that will now head to the Governor’s desk for signature or any veto action. They were HB129 which now counts emergency and substitute levies in the calculation of the 20 mill floor. HB186 which caps revenue growth for schools on the 20 mill floor using inflation (GDP deflator) they did add partial backfill to schools, funded by canceling the 2026 sales tax holiday, which guarantees impacted school districts receive the same amount in property taxes as they received in TY 2024. HB309 which would allow County Budget Commissions to reduce any voter-approved levy (outside of debt) if revenue is deemed unnecessary or excessive (a public hearing is required before any reduction). HB335 which caps revenue growth from inside millage to inflation (GDP deflator).

You should have received an email from Patrick Stevenson (state auditor) regarding the STRS and SERS audit with the Representation letter, Engagement letter, and audit attached to it. If you didn’t see the email the only thing you really need to know is that there were no issues found during the audit which was expected.

The regular audit is well underway by Julian & Grube. They were on site for about three days and now I expect the rest of the audit work will be completed offsite. I don’t expect any issues, and nothing has come up from their audit work so far outside of a probable recommendation to move the balance in the current 070 account back to the general fund and close it as we can’t establish when it was created. Those funds are really supposed to be utilized within 10 years and then whatever balance remains is to be transferred back to the original fund. We will utilize the 070 more in the near future as we proceed with a capital management/improvement plan.

Mr. Nickoli recognized Mandy Glessner, Clay Frye, Jolene Young, Jeremiah Howe, and two students who were attending to give a presentation. 

No public input. 

No correspondence. 

Director Frye started by recognizing Amanda Glessner and her help and coordination with our special education department in recognizing a list of non perishable food items that would make a Thanksgiving meal outside of a turkey and putting those meals together for some identified students that might not know where their meals would come from during the Thanksgiving break. Staff and some community members went and purchased the food to put together for students to take home with them before they left for break. 

Director Frye also reported on the following topics:

Veteran’s Day Assembly/Program

Thanksgiving Luncheon with Students/Staff

Business Partner of the Year/Distinguished Alumni

Rotary Luncheon with Students

Ohio Laborers Presentation

OST Testing/Recruitment

Meal Kits for Students for Thanksgiving

Supervisor Howe introduced Violet Auck and Daelynn Funk who presented on a current project they are working on in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity. They've been working on a house with some demolition and laying down new flooring. They also discussed another job they have been working on for some apartments that involved demolition and flooring as well. They showed some pictures of some Christmas trees they made out of Pine wood for the ECE students to paint that will be utilized for the ECE Christmas program. 

Board Member Grady reported as follows:

The Annual Business Meeting of the Ohio School Boards Association Delegate Assembly convened on Monday, November 17 at 2:30.

The most important agenda item is voting on  changes to the legislative platform.  The most significant change was the addition of  the following language:

OSBA SUPPORTS LEGISLATION THAT   AFFIRMS THE AUTHORITY OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO MAKE DECISIONS REGARDING CURRICULUM, BUDGETING, STAFFING, AND SCHEDULING,......

  ENSURES THAT LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL RESERVES AND THE DISCRETION TO DETERMINE THE TIMING AND AMOUNT OF LEVIES BASED ON LOCAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

 OSBA OPPOSES LEGISLATION THAT  UNDERMINES THE DECISION-MAKING AUTHORITY OF LOCALLY ELECTED BOARDS OF EDUCATION. 

This language addresses recently enacted bills that permit other political entities to change voter approved school funding issues such as happened in several counties in Ohio in October.  You may recall that Richland County school districts’  revenue was negatively impacted by an action of the Richland County Board of Commissioners in October.

The end of the meeting entailed debate on three resolutions by three boards of education seeking to change the language of the Racism/Equity planks of the legislative platform.  After two hours of debate no resolution received the three quarter affirmative vote necessary to change the current language.

The meeting adjourned at 5:30.

Superintendent Nickoli reported as follows:

RALPH PHILLIPS BUSINESS PARTNER OF THE YEAR DINNER

On Thursday, November 20th, we held the annual Ralph Phillips Business Partner of the Year Dinner. The Willows of Willard, nominated by Health Assistant Instructor Terri Crain, was recognized as Pioneer’s 2025 honoree. They sent several representatives to receive the honor and enjoy a time of food and fellowship. We also recognized Mr. David Finnegan, with Pioneer’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. Mr. Finnegan, a 1970 graduate of Pioneer spent over 20 years in the Collision Repair Field and now over 30 years as a high school Collision Repair Instructor. He currently teaches at the Delaware Area Career Center and has announced his retirement to be effective at the end of the current school year. It should be noted that, as a member of Pioneer’s 1970 graduating class, he was a member of our first two-year class.

VETERAN’S DAY RECOGNITION

Our Social Studies Department, led by Social Studies Teacher Robin Hager, and several programs did an excellent job remembering our veterans the week of Veterans Day. I am proud to report that our students were not only well-behaved but also showed great reverence for the service of our Veterans. Thank you to Mr. Theaker for attending and severing as our keynote speaker for the event.

THANKSGIVING LUNCH FOR STUDENTS

Tuesday, November 25th, we will be holding our annual Thanksgiving Lunch complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, a vegetable and pumpkin pie for dessert. Please feel free to join us as we celebrate the holiday with our students.

AGREEMENTS WITH SHELBY POINTE FOR CNA TRAINING

I am recommending that you approve an agreement with Shelby Pointe for Certified Nursing Assistant Training. This agreement allows us to utilize Shelby Pointe as a clinical experience site for both our high school and adult students.

BCBA SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH MOESC

I am also recommending that you approve an agreement with the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center for As Needed Board Certified Behavior Analyst Services. This service comes as a result of a request from our Special Needs Department.

CALENDAR ITEMS.

11/25 – Thanksgiving Luncheon for Students

12/15 – Board Holiday Dinner provided by Culinary Arts Students

We will have the dinner immediately following the December Board Meeting which will be held in the Pioneer Room.

12/19 – Holiday Open House (10:30am to 12:15pm)

PERSONNEL

I am asking that you approve the resignation of Krista Snider as a Cosmetology Instructor and the voluntary transfers of Nicole Harding to the Cosmetology Lab Instructor position and Caitlyn Roub to the Cosmetology-Related Instructor position. Ms. Harding will also receive an eighth pay contract, prorated for the remainder of the school year since she will no longer have a conference period.

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

No discussion - moved to vote. 

No discussion - moved to vote. 

No discussion - moved to vote. 

No discussion - moved to vote. 

No discussion - moved to vote.