By: Rebecca Miller
The Monday evening meeting of the Wauseon School Board held on March 8, 2021 began with the approval of minutes, before hearing a major Power Point Presentation from Mrs. Michelle Leatherman, Director of Instructional Services.
Mrs. Leatherman said that she and Mr. Troy Armstrong, Wauseon Superintendent, have been in discussion about the emotional well being of all of the students in Wauseon Schools, thus this presentation.
She began by giving the definitions of the two Current District Initiatives: Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and Equity Literacy. The first is defined as “the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.
The skills associated with SEL provide the foundation for effective communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, resiliency, perseverance, and teamwork – all of which are necessary for individuals to be successful in a technical or career field and postsecondary work.”
Equity Literacy is “a comprehensive approach for creating and sustaining equitable schools. (Equitable means “fair and impartial.”) The foundations of equity literacy are: 1. A commitment to deepening individual and institutional understandings of how equity and inequity operate in organizations and societies, and 2. The individual and institutional knowledge, skills, and will to vigilantly identify inequities, eliminate inequities, and actively cultivating equity. At the individual level, when we embrace equity literacy we learn to become a threat to the existence of inequity and an active cultivator of equity in our spheres of influence.”
Leatherman went on to explain that these are both important initiatives at WEVS for the following reasons: Social Emotional Learning “aligns with ‘Each Child, Our Future,’ Ohio’s strategic plan for education; strong research to support using SEL approaches in school: SEL is associated with improved school climate, reduced dropout rates and truancy, and contributes to student’s connections to school and community; college and career readiness and engaged citizenship.
Equity Literacy also “aligns with ‘Each Child, Our Future’; more diverse student body with nuanced learning needs; aligned with SEL standards; and it builds and sustains student access to equitable educational opportunities free of bias, inequity and discrimination.”
So far the Wauseon Schools, for Equity Literacy (EL) have “established a district team to review policy and strategically plan; established building teams and completed a 3.5 hour virtual training with OEA (Ohio Education Association); provided an overview of EL to all staff at the January 2021 PD day; and reviewed possible Equity Audit processes.
For SEL, the school has begun “PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support) initiatives district wide; PAX (latin for Peace) training and implementation for K-5; A Renewed Mind partnership; 7Mindsets; and Classroom and small group counseling.”
As far as what to do to move forward, Leatherman recommended that they “complete an equity audit and review the results, which would be a needs assessment; hold more equity professional development for staff, including in-person trainings and events; develop and implement a policy on equity in the Wauseon district; get active a comprehensive SEL program district-wide for grades PreK-12; continue the development and implementation of PBIS; and develop and sustain community partnerships.”
Following a time of questions, the Board thanked Mrs. Leatherman for the presentation, and moved on to other items. They spoke about the plan to have an Income Tax Levy on the November 2021 ballot.
Wauseon Schools have never had one before so they are doing this in order to match up financially with the other districts. There will be a committee formed and they will get more info out to the community.
In regular business, the Board voted to approve:
•Bills and financial reports as presented
•With gratitude, the following donations: AED And wall bracket ($1500 value) from Fulton County Health Radiothon to WEVS; &87 from Velma Horst to WES Food Pantry; $599.15 from Larry and Melda Richer to WES Food Pantry; $1,000.00 from The Greg and Sherry Suon Charitable Fund of In Faith Community Foundation to WES Food Pantry; Various gallons (approx. 12) and quarts of paint from Ace Hardware to the WEVS Art Department; and $50.00 from Black Swamp Arts Council to WEVS Art Department
•Adoption of the FY21 permanent appropriations
•Modifications and supplemental modifications to the FY21 Certificate of Estimated Resources
•Treasurer and Superintendent to enter into an agreement with Precision Retirement Group, Inc. effective April 1, 2021
•Following Personnel Items: Approved the Rachel Wixey and Associates Substitute list as presented; Allow Rachel Wixey and Associates to hire substitutes with a one-year temporary non-bachelor’s substitute teaching license.
Accepted the resignation for purposes of retirement of Frederick Collar as a WHS Social Studies teacher, effective June 1, 2021; Accepted the resignation for purposes of retirement of Dennis Peabody as a WEVS Bur Driver, effective August 1, 2021; Accepted the resignation for purposes of retirement of Rebecca Peabody as a WEVS Bus Driver, effective August 1, 2021.
Offered a one-year limited Administrative contract to Sonia Jacobs as the WEVS COVID-19 Coordinator for the 2020-2021 school year, effective April 1, 2021 through July 31, 2021 as presented; Approved Michael Colon as a WEVS Substitute Van Driver for the 2020-2021 school year; Approved Mike Colon, Tracy Elson, Joy Hutchinson, Matt Hutchinson, Ashley Oyer, Bob Schultz and Santana Villarreal as OHSAA Tournament Workers, retroactive to February 18, 2021
•NEOLA Bylaw Policy additions and revisions for a first reading
•Resolution Expressing Commitment to the (NWOAL) Northwest Ohio Athletic League
•Resolution selecting Poggemeyer Design Group, Inc. as architect and authorizing negotiation of an agreement for services
– Approved the ODE Fiscal Precaution corrective action plan as presented.
Dave Fleming, School CFO/treasurer presented the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) Fiscal Precaution Corrective Action Plan.
Along with some charts and graphs he shared the reasons that the school needs this plan, what they have already been doing, even before COVID, to correct the financial situation, and how they plan to further correct it.
Fleming stated in his report…“It is important to start by covering some of the whys behind how we have landed in a “precautionary” financial state with the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).”
“The first situation that needs to be pointed out is that in the spring of 2020 our Board of Education made the difficult decision to move forward with a 1.75% earned income tax levy to be placed on the ballot in November of 2020.”
“On March 9th of 2020 we began the process of rolling out the data that supported this decision. We began presenting this data on the morning of March 9th at an all staff meeting. Later that evening we presented similar data, however slightly more detailed to our Board of Education.”
“At this meeting our Board, along with our administrative team confirmed our financial need for the proposed levy. The Board gave the Superintendent and Treasurer the go ahead to move forward with placing an earned income tax levy on the upcoming November ballot.”
“Three short days later our economy was shut down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were confident in our ability to pass the proposed income tax levy.”
“However, following the events that unfolded over the next couple of months surrounding COVID-19 and after extensive deliberation we made the tough decision not to move forward with the proposed income tax levy.”
“Had we been able to pass this proposed levy we would not be in the situation we find ourselves today.”
Many additional reasons exist that help to explain how and why we have landed in this financial situation. One in particular that we have grown weary of mentioning are the constant unfunded mandates handed down by the State legislature.”
“For example the College Credit Plus mandate. This is an outstanding program for our high school aged, college bound students that we believe should continue to be offered.”
“Although a seemingly minor financial commitment on the surface, +$75,000.00 annually for us, this expense and the associated appropriations might better be used to cover the curriculum needs of the current students of the district, benefiting all students not just a select few.”
“If the state is committed to the College Credit Plus program offering, which clearly they are, then the State should assume the associated financial and administrative burden.”
“When something of such value is given away for “free” to parents and students, it is only natural for the demand to continue to increase.”
“Simultaneously, it is inevitable that the cost of providing the “free” benefit will steadily rise in tandem with the increased demand.
“When we take a closer look at the recently implemented ODE Strategic Plan one will quickly notice that the attainment of a degree in post-secondary education is but one cog in the wheel of the development plan for our diverse student population.”
“Under the “One Goal” learning domain of the “#EachChildOurFuture” vision it is clear the continuing education of our K-12 students through a Higher Education model is but one of many options lined out for the continued development of a “resilient, lifelong learner who contributes to society.”
“It begs the question then, why are we not mandating that the Ohio K-12 system pay for and prepare our K-12 students for service in our military branches the same as we are for Higher Education? Does this not carry equal weight in the “One Goal” learning domain?”
“This potential expectation would only seem logical given the onerous mandate currently in place that our local constituents fund the aspirations of a two or four year college program for our children prior to their successful completion of their K-12 educational requirements.”
“When we review the total cost to educate one K-12 child using data from 1st grade through 12th for our most recent graduates, we see that the district spends $109,894.08 on educational cost per student over their K-12 educational cycle.”
“This expense is what it takes Wauseon EVSD on average to prepare a child for the opportunity to meet the vision and goals of the ODE Strategic Plan should they desire to do so. As our corrective action plan details, these cost will only continue to increase.”
“Nevertheless, following this monumental investment on the part of our tax payers the State legislature would like the residents of our district to continue the financial and administrative burden of education beyond their K-12 responsibility and pay another $75,000.00 annually, for kids in our district that aspire to continue their education and to cover the costs associated with these higher education needs and desires.”
“Another significant eye opening unfunded mandate is that of the special education scholarship available to the student population in need.”
“This is another great example of a much needed program that should be continued and supported by our State legislature.”
“However, the magnitude of the burden that can be placed on a Local School district with just one piece of legislation is virtually unsustainable from a local funding perspective.”
“There has been exponential growth and enormous financial burden that has been placed on the Wauseon School district with the passage of this legislative mandate.”
“We believe that families should have choices when it comes to the education of their child, however when the choice is made by a family to place a child outside the district for their educational needs it should not be at the expense of the local school district.”
“Unfortunately this is the position K-12 school districts have been placed in across the State. Any rural district the size of Wauseon would struggle mightily to administer and fund an expense of this magnitude. Especially one that grows many times the rate of inflation as this one has.”
“Due to the fact that House Bill 920 prevents the district from gaining much additional revenue on our property tax valuations, eventually the district will be forced to ask for additional funding via tax increases generated at the local level if the State is unwilling to bear the cost of programs such as this.
“Furthermore, in FY17 as a result of yet another unfunded mandate we were forced to hire an additional school psychologist to administer testing and reporting for the community schools our students attend.”
“The associated cost for this mandate is in excess of $100,000.00 per year in salary and benefits alone. The aforementioned data does not cover all of the costs associated with this single mandate, the expenses in total for this single commitment exceeds $1,000,000.00 per year, which equates to more than 5% of our general fund annual budget for the support of less than 25 students.”
“In addition to the aforementioned unfunded mandates, we have had to absorb hundreds of thousands of dollars in reductions to our federal grant allocations and/or re-allocations to non-public schools over the past 4-5 years.”
“When this happens there is but one revenue source available to cover these massive funding cuts, our general fund. We have not projected these losses in Federal funding to continue in our plan.”
“In FY20 & FY21 the district sustained health insurance cost increases of 8% and 9% respectively. These two increases alone cost the district +$400,000.00 in additional expense annually as well as going forward. As everyone is well aware, health care costs are out pacing inflation in a significant way.”
“All of these substantial increases on the expense side of the equation are a direct hit to our general fund which have a negative impact on our ability to educate our kids.”
“Our State support is not keeping pace with the rising costs associated with the many “free” services we are forced to provide.”
“Our Board of Education and our District Administration are acutely aware of our financial situation. Our School Board receives monthly reports and updates regarding our financial state.”
“At our first regularly scheduled board meeting following each month end close our Board is provided the following reports which keep them abreast of our current financial state: Monthly bank reconciliation; We provide an SM2 Report complete with data for this fiscal year compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year; Financial summary of all funds; Monthly check register detailing reconciled and voided checks; Monthly ending General Fund cash balance report detailing the previous five year closing balances by month; Monthly ending General fund Revenue report detailing the previous five year revenues by month; Monthly ending FYTD General Fund Revenues cumulative detailing the previous five year revenues by month; Monthly General Fund expenses by expense category current month and FTYD; General fund FYTD total expenditures by month for the previous five years; An investment portfolio with rates of return, allocation balances and projected annual earnings.”
“In addition, the Board receives regular updates verbally and via PowerPoint as needed. As a result of these measures the Board and Administration have proactively worked together to develop and implement many cost saving initiatives.”
“We have recently completed a district wide solar & LED lighting project, which included replacement of virtually all light fixtures throughout the district with new state of the art LED lighting with no out of pocket cost to the district. 3,600 lighting fixtures in all were replaced.”
“The majority of our fixtures were at or near the end of their useful lives. This initiative has saved the district tens of thousands of dollars and untold man hours of time.”
“Our Superintendent implemented a zero based budgeting model in the spring of 2020 in preparation for our FY21 budgeting season.”
“We were able to make reductions to our spending again saving the district tens of thousands of dollars. Unfortunately these measures are insignificant when compared to many of the more substantial cost drivers we are continually dealing with.”
“Soon after completion of our solar and LED project it was brought to our attention that 3 of the 4 compressors in our 2 chillers at our high school have already or were failing.”
“We did not have the resources necessary to replace them. We immediately got to work on looking for a viable solution. Shortly thereafter our Board authorized the Superintendent and Treasurer to enter into an agreement with Dynamics Energy Solutions to replace the cooling systems at our primary school (which was failing), all 4 compressors at our high school as well as installing a state of the art controls system encompassing all systems throughout the district.”
“The project will be paid for 100% from energy savings tied to these upgrades once completed. All of this without any out of pocket expense on the part of the district.”
“As you can see, prior to the realization of the gravity of the COVID-19 pandemic and its adverse effects on society and our economy, our administration had already begun the task of implementing many cost cutting measures.”
“A hiring freeze was implemented and elimination of positions through attrition had already begun. Following the economic and social paradigm shift created by the COVID-19 pandemic we immediately began meeting with our teachers union to discuss potential cost cutting strategies.”
“Much to our delight and consistent with the professionalism our teacher’s union has always exemplified, an MOU was crafted reducing teacher and administrator’s negotiated pay increase for the FY21 school year. The increase was reduced form 1.9% to .9%. “
“Following this, we immediately got to work on passage of a substitute levy replacing an emergency levy that had been on the books for some time. The levy passed, continuing the ongoing high level of support given to our schools by the citizens of Wauseon.”
“Short of the State implementing sweeping over hauls repealing many of the unfunded mandates local K-12 school districts are saddled with, Wauseon Schools will continue to hope for increases to our State aid.”
“It is clear that many of our obligations continue to severely outpace inflation, however our State funding remains flat while our Federal funding continues to be cut. In lieu of this we must find ways to cover the burden at the local level.”
“We, as many educators are, remain in support of House Bill 1 which has been working its way through the legislative process. Passage of this bill will go a long way toward bridging many of the gaps we are having to try and fill on our own.
Unlike many districts throughout the State we felt it irresponsible to make the assumption, given the state of the economy in Ohio this past November that the Governor’s Student Wellness & Success Funding (SWSF) would be continued.”
“Therefore our November forecast reflected the district losing this funding stream. We are now more confident in its reinstatement. Additionally we were “holding back” $50K from our FY21 SWSF allocation for an initiative to be determined at a later date. These funds have also now been made a part of our corrective action plan.”
“The following is a summary of additional adjustments we are incorporating that are common to both plans:
•In November of 2020 we passed a substitute levy that will bring in approximately $40K in additional revenue annually. The initial impact is $20,000 in FY22. With timing of payments and annual growth due to the nature of the substitute levy, the amounts per fiscal year increase.
Approximately $40,000 in additional revenue annually with the plan reflecting $20,000 in FY22, $50,000 in FY23 and FY24 and $60,000 in FY25.
•FY21 Executive Ordered adjustment reinstating a portion of our COVID-19 related cuts to our State foundation funding. $122,500.00. Our original assumption reflected increases to foundation payments. Due to anticipate flat funding on this line item subsequent years are adjusted down to reflect the flat funding.
•Funding for Pre-School has increased by $45,000.00.
•The addition of a onetime FY21 Bureau of Workers’ Compensation rebate of $160,000.00.
•Additional expenses for excess costs which are expected to continue as a result of the opioid epidemic, $90K annual expense. We plan to utilize ESSER II grant money to cover this expense in FY21 and are anticipating this expense to increase to $100,000.00 annually for the remainder of the forecast.
•Increased costs for the Wauseon Virtual Academy FY22 $54K, FY23 $45K, FY24 $36K, FY25 $36K
•Increased costs for the Ohio Virtual Academy FY22 $70K, FY23 $50K, FY24 $30K, FY25 $20K
•Increased costs to NWOESC $50K annually through FY25
•Due to the use of ESSER II funds we were able to eliminate the budgeted transfer for our food service program in FY21 saving $25K
•Closure of all major POs at the end of each fiscal year $75K
•If our proposed income tax levy were to fail we would immediately implement a Reduction in Force (RIF) plan with layoffs beginning in January of 2022.
“The initial savings would be $67,812.00 for FY22 and $3,056,602.00 adjusted for inflation for FY23 through FY25.” “The Board is planning on putting a proposed 1.75% earned income tax levy on the November 2021 ballot.”
“The passage of an income tax levy will place the district on sound footing for some time to come. However should the levy not be successful we will be forced to announce significant layoffs in order for the district to make ends meet over the next few years.”
“If the district were to find itself placed in the position of implementing layoffs we would not be able to begin until sometime in early January of 2022. This in order to allow for the November election results to unfold.”
An Executive Session was held “for the consideration of an employee,” with no action taken, before the meeting adjourned. The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for April 9, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the Wauseon Elementary School.
Rebecca can be reached at publisher@thevillagereporter.com
