MIAMI EAST LOCAL SCHOOLS

BOARD BITS

Review of May 20, 2008

Regular Board Meeting

Rusty Miller, board president, called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m., held in room 602 at Miami East Junior High School. The country was honored by the Pledge of Allegiance.

Roll Call was taken with board members Brad Burton, Mark Davis, Rusty Miller, Lucy Taylor, and Harold Brumfield in attendance.

Also in attendance were: Carmen Richters, staff member; Justin Roeth, staff member; Preston Elifritz, staff member; Ellen Donnelly, staff member; Carla Vandever, staff member; Stephanie Mitrisin, staff member; Nicole Lanning, staff member; Ric Hacker, elementary principal; Don Nuss, technology supervisor; Tonya Nuss, parent; Emily Chappie, student; and Josh Matheson, student.

> >> >PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments heard.

GOOD NEWS RECOGNITION

Two of the students that attended this year’s New York City Trip shared their experiences during the trip. Josh Matheson and Emily Chappie both described sites and events they enjoyed during this year’s trip to New York City. Josh described visiting the Statue of Liberty, the Museum of Art, and the wax museum. Josh commented that for students that have grown up in the Miami East School District visiting a city the size of New York was an unbelievable experience. Emily Chappie described attending the theatre events while in New York and how they were different from performances they attended while at Miami East. In addition, Emily described how moving the Ground Zero Site was for the students. Emily commented that the site moved many of our students to tears as guides explained their experiences at the site. Both students thanked the Board of Education for supporting trips such as this for the students in the district.

Kindergarten staff members: Carmen Richters, Justin Roeth, and Preston Elifritz reported on this year’s all-day everyday kindergarten unit. Mr. Elifritz began the presentation describing why the unit was created and the goals for this year’s class. Mr. Roeth explained to the Board how students are selected for the class. Four criteria are used in making the decision beginning with the initial kindergarten screening process in the spring. Students are then tested a second time during the first two weeks of school. An average of these two testing periods, classroom teacher observations, and the four criteria are all combined to assist in the selection process. Mrs. Richters presented pre-test and post-test data showing significant gains in academic achievement for all of the students enrolled in the unit this year. Students in the unit had increases in their KDI Scores from an average of 89.9 in the spring of 2007 to 146.8 in the spring of 2008. Additionally, Dibel scores increased in all four areas for these fifteen students. Additionally, Mrs. Richters thanked the two Title I teachers, Ellen Donnelly and Carla Vandever for their time and effort in working with these students this year. All of the kindergarten teachers thanked the Board for supporting this unit this year and recommended its continuation for the 2008-2009 school year.

Report from the Social Studies Textbook Selection Committee. The Textbook Committee is part of the curriculum committee as part of the district’s five-year strategic plan. Three of the committee members reported on the selection process and the benefits of the new textbooks and materials for the 2008-2009 school year. Carmen Richters, Stephanie Mitrisin, and Nicole Lanning represented all three buildings and the overall selection committee. Mrs. Richters described the selections at the elementary level and how the course of study dictated several different publishers being selected. Mrs. Mitrisin described the selections at the junior high and how Holt and Glencoe were aligned with the junior high benchmarks and indicators. Stephanie also described the supplementals and smartboard items that coincided with the textbook selections. Mrs. Lanning described the selections at the high school. Nicole explained how the Economics course would be changing in future years and how that particular textbook would be aligned with the new CORE requirements.

TREASURER’S REPORT:> >

A. Approval of minutes of the regular board meeting of April 15, 2008,

and the special meetings of April 25, 2008 and May 9, 2008.

B. Approval of financial statements for April, 2008.

C. Review of the revised five-year forecast for 2008-2012 and discussion of the district’s financial position.

D. Revision of the district’s financial 5-year forecast for 2008-2012 as presented
by the treasurer.

E. Approval to advertise for bids for one (1) seventy-two (72) passenger

transit style bus, with a bid opening on June 13, 2008, at 12:00 noon.

> >> >

F. Approval to purchase liability, property and fleet insurance from the

Ohio School Plan through The Hylant Administrative Services

for July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 (12 months).

G. Approval of the Revised Amended Tax Rates and Amounts for 2008 (to

be collected in 2009), as previously approved by the Miami County Budget

Commission.

INFORMATION ITEMS:

“School Finance”

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT:

NEW BUSINESS:> >> >

A. EMPLOYMENT ITEMS:

1. Approval of the following certificated personnel for upgrade

of degree, effective at the beginning the 2007-08 school year, on the

approved salary schedules, after receipt of official transcripts:

Kalyn Fowler – BS to BS+150 @ Step 0

(BS & BS+150 @ Step 0 is same salary per negotiated agreement)

2. Approval of an additional classified sub for the balance of

2008-09 school year, on an as needed basis as follows:

Custodian: Jackie Hall

3. Approval of the non-renewal of the spring supplemental contracts,

for personnel outside the teaching staff of Miami East, effective at the close

of the 2007-2008 school year season as follows:

HIGH SCHOOL

Head Baseball Coach – Barry Coomes

Assistant Baseball Coach – Jeffrey Haulman

Head Softball Coach – Curt Schaefer

Assistant Softball Coach – Pat Nevius

High School Musical Producer/Director – Mark Iiames

4. Approval of the non-renewal of extended services days at the

end of the 2007-08 school year for the following certified staff:

Kathy Blair – Vocational – 3 days
Ceal Turnbull – High School Counselor – 20 days

Kelly Young – High School/Elementary Counselor – 5 days

Sandra Finkes – Jr. High Counselor – 5 days

Wade Meyers – AV/Library – 6 days

5. Approval and acceptance of Mark Rose’s resignation as

high school head wrestling coach at the close of the 2007-08
school year season.

6. Approval for an unpaid leave of absence for Chris Perry, secretary,

for May 9, 12 and 13, 2008.

7. Approval of sub teachers who have been approved by the Miami

County Educational Service Center and on file in the central office. These are

all on an as needed basis for the 2007-08 school year. The board-approved rate

of pay has been set at $75.00 per day through 10^th consecutive days, and $83.00

per day from 11^th day through 60^th day in the same position, then place on the beginning salary schedule.

8. Approval of a contract with Kimberly Rupert for maintenance and

upgrade of the district’s website, for the 2008-2009 school year.

9. Approval of the suggested salary range for administrators to be used

as a baseline for the 2008-09 school year.

B. OHSAA MEMBERSHIP FOR 2008-2009:

Approval of membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association

for grades 7-12 for the 2008-2009 school year.

C. EARLY RELEASE FOR SENIORS:

Approval for three days early release days for Seniors on May 30,

June 2, and June 3, 2008.

D. APPROVAL OF CLASS OF 2008 FOR GRADUATION:

Approval of the Class of 2008 for graduation, 95 seniors, on

May 23, 2008, 7:30 p.m., at Hobart Arena in Troy.

E. ALL DAY/EVERYDAY KINDERGARTEN – 2008-2009:

Approval of an All Day/Every Day Kindergarten Recovery class,

with a minimum student number of 15 and a maximum number of 20. The guidelines

for the program are listed within the attached form.

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F. SOCIAL STUDIES TEXTBOOK ADOPTION AND PURCHASE:

Approval of adoption and purchase of the following Social
Studies Textbooks, as recommended by the Social Studies Textbook Committee:
Elementary

Kindergarten National Geographic (2008 Windows on Literacy)

Grade 1 National Geographic (2008 Windows on Literacy)

Grade 2 Harcourt Social Studies (2008 Ohio People We Know)

Grade 3 Harcourt Social Studies (2008 Our Communities)

Grade 4 Macmillan/McGraw-Hill

Grade 5 Harcourt Social Studies (2008 The United States Vol.1)

Junior High School

Grades 6 Holt (2008 World History Ancient Civilizations)

Grades 7 Glencoe (2008 Journey Across Time – The Early Ages)

Grade 8 Glencoe (2008 The American Journey -Early Year)

High School

American Government Prentice Hall (2008 Magruder’s American Government)

Honors American Government Prentice Hall/Pearson (2008 Government in America)

American History McDougal Littell (2008 The Americans: Reconstruction)

Honors American History Pearson/Prentice Hall (2008 The American Journey, Vol.2)

Psychology Glencoe (2008 Understanding Psychology)

Sociology Glencoe (2008 Understanding Sociology)

Economics Glencoe (2008 Economics Today and Tomorrow)

World Studies Glencoe (2008 World Geography and Cultures)

G. APPROVAL OF BOARD POLICY CHANGES PER NEOLA:

Approval of the Board Policies changes as presented for

review. These changes include updates to items such as policies related to Board

member conflict of interest, Board of Education Appointees, BCII and FBI Checks,

Equal Opportunity employment policy, and vendor relations.

H. APPROVAL OF THE BEVERAGE MARKETING AGREEMENT WITH

PEPSI AMERICAS FOR THE MIAMI EAST SCHOOL DISTRICT

2008-2014 SCHOOL YEARS

Approval of the Beverage Marketing Agreement with Pepsi

Americas for the Miami East School District 2008-2014 school years.

OTHER INFORMATIONAL/DISCUSSION ITEMS:

- Board members received this month’s installment of The Board – “Setting A Foundation For Ethical Behavior” & “Ten Tips for Taming Controversial Meetings”.

- The Board of Education self-appraisal will be completed by Dr. Decker during
the regularly scheduled meeting in June.

- Congratulatory letter from Senator Tom Roberts to the Miami East School
District being awarded an eTech Ohio Grant.

- The architect advertisement ended on Friday May 16, 2008.

- Discussion regarding a request from a family that home schools their children
to revisit a partial enrollment policy for the district.

- Dr. Phil Tieman will be facilitating a professional development opportunity
for BOE members that will be held on June 9^th.

- Mr. Rappold shared that the district was informed this morning that Miami East
had won the Cross County Conference All-Sports trophy. Mr. Rappold recognized
the efforts this year from our student athletes, coaches, athletic director, and
parents in earning this award for the first time in the district’s history.

BOARD MEMBERS’ COMMENTS:

- General Discussion(s)

ADJOURNMENT: The Board of Education adjourned the meeting at 9:05 p.m.

NEXT REGULAR MEETING

MIAMI EAST K-8 SCHOOL

June 17, 2008

7:00 P.M.