Board of Education Meeting

Approve the employment of the following personnel contingent upon subsequent receipt by the Board of a satisfactory criminal record check from the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Federal Bureau of Investigation as required by law and applicable state certification:

Approve the first reading of the attached list of Board Bylaws and Policies:

Approve the Second Reading on the job description for Athletic Director/Assistant Principal.

WHEREAS, Governor Kasich’s biennial budget (HB 59) proposes to expand the EdChoice Scholarship Program through two new options that will significantly increase the number of publicly-funded vouchers for students to attend private or parochial schools and;

WHEREAS, one of the programs provides private or parochial school tuition vouchers to any entering kindergarten student of a family with a household income less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, to be used at the parent’s choice of participating private or parochial school; and

WHEREAS, the following year, such vouchers would be expanded to include students in both kindergarten and first grade, totaling $25 million over the biennium; and

WHEREAS, such vouchers would be granted without regard to the academic performance or quality of the public school that the student is assigned to attend; and

WHEREAS, the second voucher expansion proposed by the Governor in HB 59 expands eligibility for the EdChoice voucher program to Kindergarten through 3^rd grade students enrolled in buildings that received a “D” or “F” in the new K-3 Literacy component of the New Report Card in 2 of the 3 most recent report cards; and

WHEREAS, the operation of the proposed programs would effectively reduce funds from the already financially beleaguered local public school districts, resulting in fewer resources for the education of remaining students;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Galion Board of Education does hereby express its opposition to these provisions in HB 59; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Galion Board of Education expresses its opposition to any legislation that seeks to transfer public dollars to support private education; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Treasurer is directed to spread this resolution upon the minutes of the Board of Education and that copies of the resolution are forwarded to the Governor and members of the Ohio General Assembly.

WHEREAS, Ohio Educational Service Centers (ESCs) are a vital link and partner in the primary and secondary educational process, providing a range of services to their member school districts, including curriculum development, professional development, technology assistance, administrative and supervisory services, preschool and special education programs, and specialist staffing and support services for at-risk youth; and

WHEREAS, ESCs assist school districts in meeting and complying with federal and state regulations in areas such as bus driver training, teacher licensure, background checks, child attendance, EMIS reporting and coordination, child abuse awareness and prevention, and many other important services to the local districts they serve; and

WHEREAS, ESCs support community outreach  and partnerships in their school districts, including family and civic engagement teams, Business Advisory Councils, Family and Children First Councils, Workforce Development Boards, and Regional P-16 Councils; and

WHEREAS, ESCs serve as important bodies to encourage and broker shared services among school districts, as well as other local government units on a regional basis, including value-added benefits in areas such as administrative back office support, grant-writing and administration, human resource services, transportation services, and technology assistance; and

WHEREAS, ESCs are effectively governed by locally elected board of education members who are accountable to Ohio taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, the executive budget proposal (HB 59) submitted by Governor Kasich proposes the continuation of reductions in the state funding subsidy for ESCs by $15.3 million, thereby reducing the ability of ESCs to effectively and efficiently serve school districts and other clients; and

WHEREAS, the bill (HB 59) also proposes to eliminate publicly elected ESC boards of education and to replace such boards with a yet-to-be determined governance model, using appointed members from all client groups, thereby eliminating public accountability and transparency for ESC operations, and potentially diluting the educational mission of ESCs;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Galion Board of Education does hereby express its opposition to these provisions in HB 59; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Galion Board of Education does hereby urge the Ohio General Assembly to maintain the state subsidy for ESCs at current levels; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Galion Board of Education does hereby urge the Ohio General Assembly to preserve public accountability and transparency by maintaining the current governance structure of elected ESC board members; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Treasurer be directed to spread this resolution upon the minutes of the Board of Education and to forward copies of the resolution to the Governor and members of the Ohio General Assembly.

Enter Executive Session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee.