Vocational Board Notes March 17, 2008 Dr. Jerome R. Brockway, Supt. Mary Ann Wayman, Treas.
The meeting of the Ashtabula County Joint Vocational School Board of Education was called to order by President Dr. Waid on Monday, March 17, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. in the board room in “B” building of the vocational school.
Present: Ed Brashear, Steve Candela, Alfred De Cato, Michael Kennedy, Barbara Klingensmith, Lester Marrison, Harlan Waid, Supt. Brockway, Treasurer Wayman and several administrators.
Absent: None
Items Presented:
A. Pledge of Allegiance.
B. Routine items of business such as minutes, financial reports, and acknowledgement of enclosed bills were approved.
C. The Board voted to approve the resolution to accept amounts and rates as determined by the budget Commission and authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the County Auditor for fiscal year commencing July 1, 2008.
D. The Board voted to approve the following transfer:
1. Transfer $18,000.00 to Permanent Improvement (003-0000) from General Fund (001) due to receipt of the lease payment from the Ashtabula County Commissioners for the Ashtabula County Educational Service Center.
E. The Board voted to approve the following appropriation adjustments:
1. Youth Opportunities Grant (019-0000) +$268,495.00 2. Key Opportunities – YO (019-9600) +$ 22,680.00
F. Mrs. Wayman told the Board if they have questions about the routine Risk/Fraud letter from the State Auditor’s office, that was mailed to all board members as a normal part of our audit, to please contact her.
G. The Board voted to approve the following personnel item: issue administrative contracts effective July 1, 2008 for the period listed to Dawn Bleau, 3 years, July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2011 and John Whipple, 3 years, July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2011.
H. The Board voted to approve the following personnel item: non-renew the administrative contract of Cheryl Longden, part-time Principal at Action Academy for the 2008-2009 school year due to unsecured funding.
I. The Board voted to approve the following personnel items: issue a pro-rated one-year limited contract to David Dragon, Custodian, until June 30, 2008 as his probationary period will end on March 25, 2008; issue Earnest Pettway a substitute custodian contract on an as-needed basis, as scheduled by the Superintendent for the 2007-2008 school year at $10.31 per hour; issue three Workforce Development instructor contracts for 2007-2008, on an as-needed basis, as scheduled by the Superintendent, not to exceed the hours listed on the contracts at $17.00 per hour pending proper certification and sufficient student enrollment; issue the following contract beginning April 1, 2008 through June 30, 2008, up to and not to exceed the hours listed, on an as-needed as scheduled basis by the Superintendent, at $17.00 per hour, pending proper certification and sufficient student enrollment as Instructor/Tutor Youth Opportunities to Debbie Tressler, Substitute Key Instructor for 70 hours.
J. The Board voted to enter into agreements to provide work experience for Youth Opportunities students for the worksites found on Enclosure III.1, from March 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008. Funds will be provided through the Youth Opportunities grant.
K. The Board voted to approve the 2008-2009 school calendar.
L. The Board voted to approve the submission of March 5th and 6th as calamity days to the State Department of Education.
M. The Board voted to approve the National School Boards Association National Affiliate membership for FY09.
N. The Board voted to approve the following out-of-county/out-of-state field trips:
1. April 16, 17, 18, 19 FCCLA State Contests Columbus & Nelsonville
O. Mr. Whipple passed out a report on the Spaghetti dinner showing that the total dinners served were almost 200 dinners more this year. We had a steady crowd and didn’t run out of tables. This was the same evening as the Parent Conferences and Open House for sophomores and their parents. We had about 60 students working that evening, Public Safety and Culinary Arts among others. The Board said “Good Job!”
P. Dr. Brockway congratulated Ashtabula City Schools for passing their levy. He passed out a levy information sheet and said this was the worst primary since 1984 for levies for schools. It is a tough economy. We had 13,078 votes for the JVS levy. The options for the next levy are August Special, November General election or May 2009 Special. Only two special elections since 2000 have been held. Presidential elections tend to have high turnouts. We’ve ranged from 13,000 to 19,000 positive votes since 1999. Dr. Brockway feels the same mix will come out in November and this election would be the least expensive to put on the ballot. The expense for the August election would be $898/precinct or approximately $93,594. Next year’s primary in May is a special election, but other issues are on the ballot. The cost would be a lot less – maybe $56,000. He said it is hard to mobilize help for an August election, but staff indicated they would help. The Board had a discussion about the levy. Dr. Brockway said that 78% of levies pass in May, historically. The Board needs to act in April if the Board wants to go with an August levy. Dr. Brockway needs to find out if we would be able to put it back on in November 2009 if it fails in May 2009. The Board by consensus feels they do not want to go in August 2008. Statistically May is the best opportunity, but if it is our last chance, we should try November 2008 also. But that election will probably have a very high turnout again.
Q. Dr. Brockway said he was notified of the Conneaut Community Investment Application for Love’s Travel Stops. We are only required to be notified, not negotiated with. This would be a 50% abatement for 15 years. The total project is about $6 million to be completed by November 2008.
R. Mr. Whipple reported that we received the Bronze Award from United Way for 60-74% of our staff participating in their recent campaign.
S. Dr. Brockway said we are looking at April 9 from 12:30 to 2:30 and also April 23 for the Board orientation. April 9 was chosen to go over programs and tour the facilities. The nuts and bolts of the orientation is recruitment, student organizations, marketing and promotion, high performance measures, Workforce Development, Permanent Improvement, and negotiated agreements. Dr. Waid will call the orientation as special meetings.
T. Mr. Marrison noted an article in the National School Boards publication on being a successful school board member and also that Cardinal Schools has a board member of 50 years.
U. The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. with the next regular meeting to be held on Monday, April 21, 2008, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
