Thanks, Rick!

Many are aware that a beautification process for Swanton is being headed up by Rick Kazmierczak, and that part of it includes school grounds.

I was not able to help on June 5th when Phase I was implemented as I had family issues to deal with - but I hope you have time to take a drive by the high school to see what was done that morning (before the rain hit!).  Volunteers did a lot of work that day, and the results look great!

Phase II and III will come later - no doubt just as good as the first!  Many thanks to Rick Kaz for his vision and hard work in helping to bring this together, as well as to all the men and women who volunteered their time to make it happen. 

May 2010 regular meeting

The regular meeting of the Board of Education was on Tuesday evening, May 25th.  As we have been digitally recording our meetings with equipment and software at the Board office, I didn't bother to bring my own, little recorder.  Unfortunately, I found out today that a problem had occured with the system and thus we only have 45 minutes of our entire meeting recorded.  Bummer!!  Not that our meetings are all that entertaining, really, but to help inform those who are interested in what's going on at the Board level.

This particular meeting was slightly different, in that we had asked Treasurer Cheryl Swisher to give a public update and explanation of the 5 yr. forecast before the Board that evening.  There are two versions required by the state, one is due Oct. 31st each year and the other is due May 31st.  We thought it would be a good idea for the May version to be explained to the public prior to our vote on its submission.

Cheryl spoke about a half hour on the forecast, with large screens that showed her spreadsheets.  She was very clear about how federal and state funding is less and less (the "bad news") while our property tax revenue is not nearly as low as originally predicted (the "good news").  As part of the summary at the end of her presentation, she reminded all present that we have very little control over what comes into the district - our revenue - and there is simply no clear path to predict what the state of Ohio is going to do for schools.  The only category over which we have any control is expenses, and many items in that category are also out of our control, such as gas and electricity prices, etc.  She reminded the crowd that fully 82% of our entire budget goes to salaries and benefits.  While the district is constantly looking for ways to save money here and there (such as purchasing through consortiums for lower costs, reducing building budgets where possible, etc.) the bottom line is that salaries and benefits are where we spend the lion's share of our money.

As President of the BOE, Mona Dyke presented several retiring teachers with our traditional purple marble apples and certificates of appreciation.  A presentation was made by Rob Upham on the desire to establish a travel soccer league in Swanton, separate from Swanton Rec. 

The board went into executive session to discuss a student concern, and following that we discussed items relative to negotiations. 

Based on my review of past history in our district, and reinforced by Cheryl's presentation, I suggested that certain numbers be revised in the 5 yr. forecast.  However, the vote on the 5 yr. forecast was to accept it as presented - I was the only "no" vote on that issue.

We amended our policy on graduation requirements to allow a student who is waiting for his/her scores on a second OGT test to process across the stage.  We have had a case in the past where former policy did not allow a student to do so, and when the re-score arrived it was shown that the test had been passed - which meant the student missed out on walking across the graduation stage because the state was tardy with providing pertinent information.  No other change was made to the policy (#5460).  

All items on the Consent Agenda were passed as presented.  We also talked about Mona's idea of creating a financial advisory committee, made up of community members with an interest and affinity for finance to look over our books with the Treasurer and advise the Board of their recommendations for our district.  A special meeting was set for June 16th to talk details of this proposed committee, such as suggested members, clarify its role, etc.

The tentative agreement with our secretaries' union (SSSA) was approved unanimously.  It is a 2-year contract that grants a 3% raise in year one and a 2.5% raise in year two.  Plus, it gets this union off the same timeframe as the teachers' union, which should be better for everybody.

One thing discussed under New Business was the Ohio Improvement Process, which I have talked about in an earlier blog posting.  The Superintendent asked that the Board approve the goals established by the leadership team, which we did. 

There was no report given on Swanton Rec, as the meeting was cancelled because its Director was unable to attend.  A report on Parents Club was given by Kris Oberheim and Cheryl Swisher.  Purchases for the elementary buildings were decided upon by the Club. 

Mona is moving forward with looking at everything involved with the Ohio School Facilities Commission, who will soon be telling our district when it is our "turn" for state money to build a new - something.  Deciding exactly "what" is part of the process she is investigating.  A walk through the 3 older buildings will be set in June, and we would like community members to also be involved.  If you have an interest in this, please contact the Superintendent so that you may also participate in the walk-through of any and all buildings you wish. 

I am a card-carrying member of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and thus I am VERY interested in the original, 1904 building.  I have a big problem with the state criteria that insists their money only comes if old buildings are demolished.  There are, in fact, other options - and I will be contacting our local history groups and genealogical society members to get them involved in saving our community's historical heritage embodied in that building. 

 

A short report on "Board Docs" was given - this is the system whereby the board could go paperless instead of needing to print off 80 to 120 pages per person each meeting. 

I gave a quick update on the committee that is handling our district's drug policy.  In cooperation with the SACC, a survey is being given to kids in grades 8 to 11 this week.  Data obtained from that survey will be used to help us consider our strategy.  Parent meetings will be scheduled, and Great Lakes Biomedical was chosen as the vendor to help us with random drug testing of kids involved in extra-curricular activities.  We are also looking into other areas where random testing might be appropriate, and will discuss those ideas with parents at those meetings.  Community involvement is crucial in protecting our kids from the evil of substance abuse. 

The meeting adjourned at 9:50 p.m. - wow!   Out before ten o'clock!! 

Who??

If you have been reading this blog for very long, you might notice that I often do not refer to other people directly by name.  Actually, that is my normal method - it is rare that I name someone within my writings.

That is because I want anyone happening to read this to know that I am commenting on an action or statement, and not on the person. 

I am perfectly comfortable agreeing or disagreeing with another person's actions or words - I can like a person and have absolutely no agreement with him or her on an issue. Conversely, it has also happened that I found myself agreeing with someone on an issue who would never be found in my circle of friends.

I realize that some folks operate on the "hate who I hate, or I'll hate you, too!" method - but I do not. That has angered some folks, but that is how I choose to do business. If that puts me in the minority, then so be it.

So if you read something here and think you recognize who I'm referencing, that is from your own sleuthing and not from me naming them or picking on an individual - unless there is good reason to do so.  That - as I said before - is rare.

Recently someone said they had been told, "well - looks like you're 'safe' this time!" in a conversation about this blog.  But I had not mentioned ANYONE's name.  Matter of fact, I haven't done that for several months now. . . 

Anyway, it is a deliberate choice on my part on when to name someone, and it is also a deliberate choice when NOT to name someone.   I hope that helps to clear up any misunderstanding out there!

After the vote . . .

A friend brought to my attention that I really hadn't stated on this blog that, once a vote is taken by the Board of Education members on an item, that vote stands and must be followed by everyone district-wide - even those board members whose personal vote might not have been one of the majority cast.

So to use myself as an example, if I vote differently than the majority of the BOE, I must still follow the final vote - whatever it is. 

Majority rules on the BOE, just like most everywhere else.

Ohio Improvement Process

I was privileged to be in attendance at a couple of our district's meetings for the Ohio Improvement Process, held in Archbold. 

Our district had each building principal and several teachers from each building as well as the Superintendent involved in this process.  They used hard data obtained directly from our own district to identify where we do well and where we need to work harder.  Once this data was analyzed, teams were made to come up with strategies and an action plan to address the areas needing improvement.

This was a GREAT process.  Administration and teaching staff worked together toward a common goal.  All were able to see the data together and reason together on how best to address it. 

There was a group to focus on reading, another for math skills, and also a group for, what could be called, PR for the district, where perceptions of our district need to be improved in our buildings and community.

Having these thoughtful, talented individuals working together for the kids in our district was downright awesome.  THIS is how it's supposed to work!!

The next step in the process is for these teams to take back their findings to the buildings and engage the rest of the staff in the plans forged by their peers.  With everyone working together on the plan, we should be able to truly do a great job in educating our kids. 

I am excited!!

A comment was made to me that some of the items discussed will cost money - and my response was that THIS is the type of thing where we SHOULD be putting our district funds:  educating our kids!

I wish I could put every detail of the process on the blog so that all of you could appreciate what has happened, but that's just not possible.  However, if you'd like more information please feel free to give a call to the Superintendent or a building principal to ask them about it.  They can also give you the names of the teachers who were involved, so that you can talk with them if you want.  I really think you'll be pleased with what they have to share with you.

I don't mean to give the impression that it's all "hearts and flowers" - some serious thought and effort went into the decisions made by the groups.  And implementing their strategies will take time and effort as well.  But the result will be that our kids will read better and also do better at math - and everyone can rejoice in that!