Board Meeting Recap
Wayne Local Schools - February 10, 2025
Welcome!
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A Quick Look
- Superintendent's Report
- WLS Bylaws and Policies
- WLS Facilities Update
- Student Board of Education Update
- Consent Agenda - Treasurer
- Consent Agenda - Superintendent
Key Items
Honoring Coach Gabbard
Dr. Ison thanked Athletic Director Jamie Manley for organizing a special celebration for Coach Gabbard’s final home game on Thursday, February 6, 2025.
Five-Year Facility Plan
WLS Business Manager Ken Lackey updated the Board on upcoming district projects, starting with the need to purchase four new school buses. The district has been replacing 1 or 2 buses a year in recent years, but is behind schedule, requiring four buses to address the aging fleet and set up a replacement cycle going forward. (A new school bus currently costs approximately $125,000.) Mr. Lackey said the district also needs to replace two vans and a pickup truck this summer. The vans are used for student transportation, while the truck will be used to haul supplies and trash and plow snow in the lots.
Mr. Lackey met with an architect to discuss the WHS bleacher project (home side). The floor is being refinished this summer, making this an ideal time to replace the bleachers (which have been repaired many times.) A bid proposal is expected to be presented for the Board’s review at the March Board Meeting.
The replacement of the Jr./Sr. High School chiller is also being considered. Specifications and packaging will be provided at the March meeting.
Summer projects include resealing parking lots, installing a seven-camera system on school buses, and implementing a bus routing system with near real-time location tracking and communication features.
Work-Integrated Learning Trip
Jr./Sr. High School Principal Chip Will is set to join 16 other Warren County leaders on an April trip to Hamburg, Germany. The visit aims to assist in building international partnerships, learning from global education and workforce practices, and understanding economic and political trends. The goal is to use these insights to improve Warren County’s education system and workforce programs, helping students prepare for future jobs.
By connecting with experts and leaders, the trip seeks to bring back valuable ideas to benefit students, educators, and the local economy. This trip will be funded by a district fundraising account.
Superintendent's Report
WLS Bylaws and Policies
The first reading of changes, additions, and deletions to nearly 45 bylaws was conducted. Many of these updates were necessary to align with changes in state laws. For more details, please refer to the policy information available on BoardDocs.
Superintendent’s Update
Dr. Ison reiterated the positive feedback received from Coach Gabbard’s recognition event. He also announced that the 5 Star plaques are completed and ready for display in school buildings. The plaque for the WLS Administrative Offices is located in the Board Room on the second floor of the PAC. The remaining topics of Dr. Ison's Update are covered in the “Key Items” section above.
Student Board of Education Update
Student Board Representatives Belle Dimbath and Blake Amburgy shared school news and information, including the following: February events at Waynesville Elementary - Mother-Son Dance, Father-Daughter Dance, the February Core Value (Uniqueness), and the upcoming Manners Luncheon. At Waynesville Jr./Sr. High School, these events were discussed: Lady Spartan Basketball, Boys Basketball, HS Anatomy Class Trip to Beacon Orthopaedics, and monthly Ohio Living Quaker Heights service opportunities.
Consent Agenda - Treasurer
Treasurer Carolyn Huber opened with more information about the five-year facility plan. She said, “The four buses, chiller, vehicles, and bleacher projects are estimated to cost $1.25 million, which will be funded through borrowing. The Permanent Improvement fund will pay the debt over a period of time. The district’s PI fund is not a separate levy but is sourced from inside millage, and the debt will be paid specifically from the increased revenue due to the growth in property values.”
Mrs. Huber was asked to explain the reasoning behind financing the district’s facilities upgrades through borrowing rather than using existing funds. She explained that using current funds would leave no money for other essential needs, such as Chromebook replacements, parking lot maintenance, and other routine maintenance projects that are paid for with Permanent Improvement dollars.
Federal Funds
She reviewed the sources of the district’s federal funds and how those dollars are allocated. WLS is awarded approximately $500,000 in federal grants each year. These funds cover the cost of 5 teachers, as well as fund professional development, safety and security needs, and preschool psychology services. Mrs. Huber and Mr. Wright are working to position the district to receive Medicaid reimbursement for services provided to students who qualify, which are also federal funds. Mrs. Huber mentioned that if WLS loses access to federal funds, adjustments would need to be made to school services, or the district would have to ask for additional financial support from the community. This situation is similar to that of any school district in Ohio.
Monthly Report, Per Pupil Funding
Mrs. Huber reviewed the January Financial Report and Appropriation Amendments. As part of her presentation, she also covered the Governor’s 26-27 budget proposals, which are included in her finance presentation. General fund revenues and expenses align with forecasts. She shared WLS per pupil funding details, noting that the state's calculated base cost per student is $8,078, which is based on 2022 cost inputs, and “does not represent what it actually costs to educate a student.” For FY24, the actual cost for Wayne Local Schools was $11,704, with the state average being $12,397.
Communicating with Legislators
Mrs. Huber informed the Board that her office uses Frontline software to provide detailed five-year forecasts. The software integrates data from key entities, including the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and the Ohio Department of Taxation to assess the impact of policy changes on district finances. “With this valuable information, we can communicate with our legislators about how specific policy changes directly impact WLS and advocate for changes as necessary.” In the case of the Governor’s budget proposal, we are relieved to hear that Governor DeWine intends to continue the implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan, and it is important to WLS for the state to continue the funding guarantees, but updating the base cost inputs (not part of the initial proposal) would increase funding for many schools.
Mrs. Huber provided the monthly financial report for January, 2025. View this information and the presentation:
The Treasurer’s Report was reviewed and approved.
Superintendent's Consent Agenda
Dr. Ison recommended the following agenda items:
25-26 district membership to the Ohio High School Athletic Association
Open Enrollment - This is the third school year of not accepting new open enrollment. However, WLS will accept existing open-enrollment students, their siblings, children of staff members, and, if space allows, children of the active military for the 25-26 school year.
The WLS Bylaws and Policies underwent their second reading.
The Superintendent’s consent agenda items, including the hiring of personnel, were approved.
Upcoming Board Meeting
The Board of Education will meet on March 10, 2025 at 6 p.m. at the WLS Performing Arts Center (second floor) for a regularly scheduled business meeting.