![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-65de0a406ca9a515a942bb7f-e16440d1e899.jpg)
Board Report
February 27th, 2024
![Board Report February 27th, 2024](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/b3b9/thumb-32ff252b3305f0f84bcef22a78cfd721.jpeg)
Board Report - April 29, 2024 Regular Meeting
Superintendent Report
Olympia Della Flora, Superintendent of Schools, shared that summer school registration is still open, and there is space for Kindergarten through 12th grade students. She also shared that the district’s strategic planning process has been completed, with a core committee consisting of 50 members meeting four times since January. The next step is to work with OSBA to finalize the mission, vision, and goals for the district and present it to both the board and the community. The superintendent also noted that the district is currently in the midst of testing season. She thanked the staff for their dedication to ensuring optimal testing environments. She also noted that the district is hiring, with a particular need for bus drivers.
Since the last board meeting, the superintendent shared that the district has secured three grants:
- The "Drive to Succeed" grant, totaling $37,000, which will provide drivers education for our students, including both online and in-person components, free of charge.
- A $12,500 grant from the Ohio Department of Education's State Personnel Grant, which will support our staff in implementing MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support) and provide necessary materials.
- The "No Kid Hungry" grant, amounting to over $5,000, will supply materials to ensure that all our students have access to nutritious food. We are grateful for these grant opportunities.
BHE Presentation: Attendance is Key
Benjamin Harrison Elementary School students gave a presentation on the importance of good attendance. They emphasized that regular attendance fosters a sense of community between students and teachers, enhances social-emotional skills, and maintains the flow of the classroom. Chronic absenteeism negatively impacts learning and can correlate with high school dropout rates. Encouraging consistent attendance sets students up for academic success both now and in the future. Watch their presentation here.
Treasurer's Report
Jolene Carter, MCS Treasurer, presented a financial forecast to the board, outlining the sources of the district’s revenue. Historically, 78% of our revenue comes from state funding, while 18% is derived from local taxes, with the remaining 5% coming from other sources.
As the district works on the five-year forecast, she observed a positive trend. Historically, revenue changes averaged about -1.69%, but the projection is an average annual change of 1.58% from FY24-28. This shift from negative to positive growth is encouraging. A comprehensive report on the five-year forecast will be provided at the May board meeting.
Assistant Superintendent Report
The Assistant Superintendent provided an update on the RFS Behavioral Health Program noting that RFS specializes in providing behavioral and mental health services in conjunction with the school. The district’s partnership with them commenced in the spring of 2023, and we plan to extend RFS services to McKinley and George Washington schools next year.
Board of Education Action Items
New Gym Floor at GMS: The Board voted to proceed with Ohio Floors for the replacement of the gym floor at the Grant Middle School Gymnasium. The project will involve replacing the entire floor, including all basketball and volleyball lines. Ohio Floors is scheduled to commence work in early May.
Summer Paving Project at HHS: The Board voted to award Earthworm Construction the contract for the Harding High School East Parking and Drive Asphalt Project.This bid came in below the budgeted amount, providing cost savings for the project. The need for replacement arises from the deterioration of the existing asphalt, which is over 20 years old and beyond repair. This project will address the failing asphalt throughout the parking lot, as well as replace sidewalks leading to the athletic/activities entrance and sidewalks and curbs along the student and bus parking lots.
New Truck for Operations: The Board approved a truck purchase to support operational needs, such as transporting the 5th wheel band/music trailer and assisting with maintenance tasks. This acquisition will enhance flexibility across multiple departments.
Staff and Student Chromebooks: The Board has approved the purchase of 500 staff Chromebooks and 800 student Chromebooks as part of the district’s 1-to-1 program at MCS. With Chromebooks having expiration dates and regular wear and tear, this acquisition ensures we maintain a sufficient supply for our students and staff. Expired Chromebooks will be repurposed as loaners, while older staff Chromebooks will be reallocated for students needing specific features. This purchase aligns with our rotation plan, ensuring each device is replaced every 5 years to support continuous learning.
MEA Agreement on Speech and Language Pathologists: Marion City Schools and the Marion Education Association have come to an agreement on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for speech and language pathologists (SLPs). This MOU ensures that SLPs will be compensated if their caseload exceeds the weighted limit.
Ohio Means Jobs Partnership: Each year, Marion City Schools partners with Ohio Means Jobs to facilitate summer employment opportunities for students aged 14-18. This ongoing collaboration aims to support our students in securing valuable work experience during the summer break.
Policy Review
The board voted to approve adjustments to the following policies:
PO 1432 - Sick Leave- Administration (to align with the number of days currently offered)
PO 3432 - Sick Leave- Professional Staff (to align with the number of days currently offered)
PO 4432 - Sick Leave - Classified Staff (to align with the number of days currently offered)
PO 8120.09 - Volunteers (Revoke the old volunteer policy because it was replaced by a new one in January 2024. The Board of Education decided to fully replace the volunteer policy with our own, so the previous version must be rescinded.)
Marion City School Board of Education
Rocky Ratliff, President
Scott Weibling, Vice President
Tara Dyer
Evan Geyer
Kathy Swanger