Geneva Area City Board of Education July 15, 2015 The Board of Education of the Geneva Area City School District met in regular session at 7:00 p.m., July 15, 2015, at the High School Auditorium. Roll Call: Present: Absent: Visitors & Guests: Mr. Behm, Mr. Brashear, Mr. Dana, Mrs. Wilt, Superintendent Zappitelli, and Treasurer Lillie None Scott Sidoti, Director of Technology/Operations; Serge Grenier, Construction Consultant; Superintendent-designee Eric Kujala; Principal Haskins; OAPSE representatives; newspaper reporters and other citizens Certification by Treasurer of Compliance with Meeting Requirements Rules New Board Member Resolution Upon Mrs. Zappitelli s recommendation, Mr. Brashear moved, seconded by Mrs. Wilt, approval of the following resolution to fill a Board of Education Vacancy: RESOLUTION TO FILL BOARD OF EDUCATION VACANCY (RC 3313.11) Whereas a vacancy has been caused on the board of education by reason of resignation, and Whereas this board of education has by law the authority to fill a vacancy for the unexpired term thereof; Now, therefore, be it resolved by a majority vote of all the remaining members of the Board of Education of the Geneva Area City School District that Richard L. Arndt hereby is appointed to serve as a member of the Board of Education of this school district for the remainder of the second year of the unexpired term of David Foote, Jr., ending on December 31, 2017. It was noted that Mr. Arndt would have to be on the ballot in November to run for the last two years of Mr. Foote s term. Roll Call: YES: Behm, Brashear, and Wilt. ABSTAIN: Dana. Oath of Office The Oath of Office was administered by the Treasurer to Richard L. Arndt. Pledge of Allegiance Correspondence President Behm asked Sergeant Major Richard Arndt to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. There was none. 1
Agenda Modification Hearing of Public Approval of Minutes Several agenda modifications were made. Tom Brown, 740 S. Eagle St., Geneva, thanked the Board for the interview process and congratulated Mr. Arndt on his selection as the new Board member. Mr. Dana moved, seconded by Mrs. Wilt, to approve the minutes of the regular session on June 24, 2015 and special session on July 6, 2015 as presented by the Treasurer. Roll Call: YES: Brashear, Dana, Wilt, Arndt, and Behm. Financial Report Mrs. Wilt moved, seconded by Mr. Brashear, to approve the June, 2015 financial report as presented by the Treasurer. Roll Call: YES: Dana, Wilt, Arndt, Behm, and Brashear. Approval of Invoices Mr. Brashear moved, seconded by Mr. Dana, to approve the June, 2015 invoices as paid and listed by the Treasurer. Roll Call: YES: Wilt, Arndt, Behm, Brashear, and Dana. Informational Items - Current Investments (see addendum file) Legislative Report Mr. Dana reported that we have had some difficult years due to lack of funding. He thanked Mrs. Zappitelli for her service, especially for doing more with less money. Mr. Dana welcomed new Board member Richard Arndt. PARCC testing has gone by the wayside. Charter school reform was shelved. While we have a lack of oversight for charter schools, Governor Kasich will be signing into law an oversight provision for the Youngtown City Schools that bypasses their local board of education by transferring power to an individual appointed by a non-elected commission. Mr. Brashear asked about the replacement tests for PARCC and what the plan was. Mr. Dana answered that the state would be using AIR (American Institutes for Research) to develop tests to replace PARCC tests. Mrs. Zappitelli added that AIR currently provided Ohio with tests for Science and Social Studies. A-Tech Report Mr. Brashear had no report, as the meeting is scheduled for next Monday. Report of the Superintendent Board Service Awards Update on Bus/ Main. Garage Project Reno Contipelli, NE Regional Manager of OSBA presented Ford Behm with his 15-year Service Award and former Board member David Foote, Jr. with his 10-year Service Award. Mr. Contiplelli distributed some literature about the Northeast Region and announced that they will be hosting an open house on September 10 th for Lake, Ashtabula, Geauga and Trumbull County NE Region participants at Painesville Riverside High School. Scott Sidoti and Serge Grenier gave an update on the new Bus/Maintenance Garage Project. They informed the Board that the project has changed from a prefab metal building to a block building. Mr. Dana asked about the budget. Mr. Behm asked about the project schedule. Mr. Brashear asked about roof elevations and if there was a tie-in to the existing building. 2
Lunchroom Report Laura Jones, Director of Food Service, gave a summary of our 2014-2015 food service operation along with a look at plans for the 2015-2016 school year. Her year-end report showed that while revenues increased by $7,000 compared to the previous year, expenditures increased over $44,000, requiring a transfer of $64,322.60. The number of lunches and breakfast served was also down. The biggest reason for the increased transfer was the increase in labor costs due mostly to the 15% increase in insurance premiums. The Assumption Lunch Delivery Program was profitable during 2014-2015, but it will no longer exist as Assumption School has closed. Mrs. Jones shared some information from the School Nutrition Association. While they support strong federal nutrition standards for school meals, including calorie limits and mandates to offer a greater quantity and variety of fruits and vegetables, they believe that some USDA regulations go too far, driving up costs and waste and causing students to swap healthy school meals for less nutritious options. They point out that 1.4 million fewer children choose school lunch each day under the new standards, and mandating that students must take a fruit or vegetable with every meal increases waste by 100% with an estimated $684 million thrown away each year. Mrs. Jones shared a school lunch price comparison for Ashtabula County schools and Madison, which showed Geneva higher than everyone but Madison. We last raised lunch prices in July 2013 by $.10, and we have never raised breakfast prices. No increase is recommended for next year. Mrs. Jones reviewed a list of accomplishments during 2014-2015 and future plans for 2015-2016, including the use of social media to market school lunches. Mr. Dana stated that staff did an excellent job under difficult circumstances. He wondered if our insurance committees would address the insurance dilemma. Mr. Brashear also stated that the cafeteria staff always does an excellent job. Mr. Brashear asked if any districts were contemplating raising prices. Mrs. Jones replied that only one was. Mr. Dana asked what other districts charged for breakfast. Mrs. Jones responded that other districts charge $1.25 to $1.50, about the same as Geneva. Cooperative Purchasing Program Upon Mrs. Zappitelli s recommendation, Mr. Dana moved, seconded by Mr. Brashear, the approval of the following resolution with the Cooperative Purchasing program for the 2015-2016 school year: OHIO SCHOOLS COUNCIL WHEREAS, the Geneva Area City School District Board of Education is desirous of participating in certain of the cooperative purchasing programs of the Ohio Schools Council, a council of governments organization under the laws of the State of Ohio; and WHEREAS, the Geneva Area City School District Board of Education has reviewed the Agreement and Bylaws of the of the Ohio Schools Council and agrees to abide by them; 3
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Geneva Area City School District Board of Education authorizes its Superintendent to initial the Agreement and Bylaws of the OHIO Schools Council and for its Treasurer to pay the annual fee. Roll Call: YES: Arndt, Behm, Brashear, Dana, and Wilt. Delegate OSBA Mr. Brashear moved, seconded by Mr. Dana, to appoint Mr. Dana as delegate and Mr. Brashear as the alternate to represent our School Board at the annual business meeting of the Ohio School Boards Association on November 9, 2015. Roll Call: YES: Behm, Brashear, Wilt, and Arndt. ABSTAIN: Dana. Mr. Behm noted that the Board in the past attended NSBA and OSBA to find out about new programs. He encouraged the entire Board and the new Superintendent to attend the OSBA Capital Conference this year. Class of 2022 Upon Mrs. Zappitelli s recommendation, Mr. Dana moved, seconded by Stu. Act. Acct. Mrs. Wilt, that a Student Activity Account be established for the Class of 2022 (200-9022). Roll Call: YES: Brashear, Dana, Wilt, Arndt, and Behm. Approve Fund Upon Mrs. Zappitelli s recommendation, Mr. Brashear moved, seconded by Mrs. Wilt, approval of the following fund to be appropriated according to the adopted budget: Fund Name Fund Number Approved Amount ECSE, IDEA 15-16 587-9016 $10,984.19 Roll Call: YES: Dana, Wilt, Arndt, Behm, and Brashear. 2015-2016 Personnel Upon Mrs. Zappitelli s recommendation, Mrs. Wilt moved, seconded by Mr. Brashear, the following personnel actions for the 2015-2016 school year. a. FMLA LOA Bonnie L. Balaban, Housekeeper, extension of leave of absence from 07/01/15 through 07/31/15. This leave will be designated under the Family Medical Leave Act. Kassie D. Burkholder, Teacher, leave of absence from 08/21/15 through 10/05/15. This leave will be designated under the Family Medical Leave Act. b. Resignation Melanie M. Frederick, Teacher, effective 06/30/15 4
c. Resignation Extra-Curricular Matthew F. Vespa - Head Boys Basketball d. Suspension of Contract - Reduction In Force Suspension of General Maintenance position, held by Jerry L. Craine, effective 07/17/15, in keeping with the provisions of the OAPSE bargaining agreement. e. Revision of Contracts 1) Bus Driver Catherine L. Tromm, Bus Garage, Summer Camp Route, 2.5 hrs./day, 4 days/wk., effective 06/29/15 through 07/30/15 2) Special Needs Assistant Denise M. Kase, Bus Garage, Summer Camp Route, hours-to-beassigned, 4 days/wk., effective 07/01/15 through 07/30/15 f. Change of Contracts Joan D. Lightner, Teacher, Middle School, from 1/2-time to 2/3-time, effective 08/21/15 Jerry L. Craine, from General Maintenance, District, 8 hrs./day, 12 mos./year to Custodian III, High School, 7.5 hrs./day, 12 mos./year, effective 07/20/15 Cynthia R. Peck, 12 mos./year, 7 hrs./day, from Custodian II, Geneva Platt R. Spencer to Housekeeper, Austinburg Elementary, effective 07/20/15 Edward J. Plesnicar, 12 mos./year, from Custodian III, High School, 7.5 hrs./day to Custodian II, Geneva Platt R. Spencer, 7 hrs./day, effective 07/20/15 g. The hiring of the following personnel on a one-year contract, to be paid according to the adopted wage guidelines, subject to meeting certification requirements of the State of Ohio, as well as a satisfactory physical examination, background check and/or other training, if applicable. 1) Extra-Curricular Scott M. Carley - Assistant Boys Soccer 5
2) Cafeteria Worker Samantha L. Leighner, Geneva Platt R. Spencer, 2 hrs./day, 9 mos./year, effective 08/19/15 3) Substitute Teachers Linda J. Holler Holly E. Maldonado 4) Cafeteria Substitute Stacie A. Sturm Mr. Dana noted that there have been retirements in the Maintenance Department and we are reorganizing that department. Is anyone losing their job as a result of these changes. Mrs. Zappitelli answered that there was some shifting around, but nobody was without a job. Roll Call: YES: Wilt, Arndt, Behm, Brashear, and Dana. Volunteers Upon Mrs. Zappitelli s recommendation, Mrs. Wilt moved, seconded by Mr. Brashear, approval of the following volunteers for 2015-2016: Russell Brown - Football Shane Clugh - Football Roll Call: YES: Arndt, Behm, Brashear, Dana, and Wilt. Pay to Participate Other Upon Mrs. Zappitelli s recommendation, Mrs. Wilt moved, seconded by Mr. Brashear, approval of the revised Pay to Participate Policy and Fee Payment Form to take effect with the 2015-2016 school year. Roll Call: YES: Behm, Brashear, Dana, Wilt, and Arndt. Mrs. Zappitelli announced that there was a new principal at Austinburg Elementary, Mrs. Amy Burzanko. Mrs. Burzanko actually grew up in this area and still has many relatives in Austinburg. She comes here from Southington where she was the only Principal for their PreK-12 building. Mrs. Zappitelli reported that there was a Memorandum of Understanding with GATA regarding freshmen sports coaches. The District will be posting the freshmen coaching positions and also adding 7 th & 8 th grade Cheerleading. Mrs. Zappitelli informed the Board that she had received an email from ESC Superintendent John Rubesich regarding a possible Board Leadership training in October on a Friday. More information will be available at a later date. 6
Mrs. Zappitelli thanked the Board for the opportunity to serve the Geneva Area City School District as Superintendent. Mr. Behm acknowledged that this is Mrs. Zappitelli s last Board meeting, and she will be greatly missed. Adjournment Mrs. Wilt moved, seconded by Mr. Arndt, to adjourn the regular session at 8:25 p.m. Roll Call: YES: Brashear, Dana, Wilt, Arndt, and Behm. The foregoing is a true and accurate record of the minutes and proceedings of the regular session held by the Board of Education of the Geneva Area City School District on July 15, 2015. 7