Streetsboro Board of Education Regular Meeting

Date of Meeting: 4/17/2025

Format: In-person

Meeting Summary:

The Regular Meeting of the Streetsboro Board of Education was called to order on April 17, 2025, at 5:45 PM.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: A Community member thanked the Board, faculty, and staff for supporting the recently held Polar Plunge. Proceeds from the Polar Plunge benefit the Special Olympics.

The Minutes from the 03/13/2025 Regular Meeting were approved.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT: Members of the Unified Sports Team were introduced to Board members. Students with and without disabilities work together on the same teams. The teams compete in events sponsored by Special Olympics. It creates inclusivity where every team member is valued.

An update was given on the Costa Rica trip. A faculty member shared photographs and stories from the trip that students had experienced. Nineteen students and four faculty members participated. Another trip to Costa Rica is planned for 2026, and a trip to Spain is planned for 2027.
Several staff members took the EPC incentive (early buy-out). The final cost savings resulting from the EPC buyouts were unknown at the time of the Board meeting because the final deadline for opting into the plan had not yet passed. At the time of the meeting, eight classified employees, six certified employees, and one exempt employee opted for the buyout. The majority of these positions will not be filled. Teachers and staff will be moved to cover areas that need attention. Some will be doing a different job next year. Moves were carefully made to ensure that the essential needs of all students are still met.

The DEI Certification process was completed. All schools in the state were required to certify that their school policy does not run contrary to Trump’s policy on DEI. It includes all clubs, organizations, and processes at Streetsboro schools. Streetsboro School District certified that it is compliant. Not complying would jeopardize federal funding.

TREASURER’S REPORT: The General Fund is looking good. It is better than last year, which was expected. A transfer will be made to cover the retirement plan. Funds must be transferred to cover the early retirement incentive. The Job Description for Fiscal Clerk has been updated. The Ohio Fair School Funding Plan is no longer allowed. The legislators claim that the plan is not sustainable. This is a detriment to all Ohio schools.. In the current budget, Streetsboro will see an increase in State funding of $37,000 in 2026 and $18,000 in 2027. It is anticipated that the State will shift more of the burden of school funding to the local level. The Ohio Fair School Funding Plan was knocked down. Legislators feel that it is not sustainable. Legislation is also being considered to cap the amount of funding that a school can carry over to 30%. Anything over 30% will have to be returned to the state. This will result in more levies being needed and remove incentives to save for the future. Multiple bills are in the House and Senate that address how property tax is collected. It may result in the schools receiving less revenue from property taxes.

CHIEF BUSINESS OFFICER REPORT: The Chief Business Officer commented that the move to cap carryover to 30% will encourage schools to spend down their budgets and de-incentivize good stewardship. An agreement has been reached between the Community and the School District to use a Soccer field for Youth Programs in the Summer. Parks and Recreation will keep the fields mowed. This is an example of the school and community working together. The district will need to purchase two new school buses. About 450 Chromebooks are needed to keep the 1:1 program. Chromebooks are replacing textbooks, and every student needs one. The Chromebooks will be purchased with grant funds and tech fees.

BOARD REPORTS: Testing is in full swing. Families will receive the testing scores by June 30th. Scores from the March PSAT and SAT exams are significantly higher than the previous year. On legislative updates: Funding for Public Libraries came under attack. Many library advocates called legislators, and as a result, the funding was not changed. This is a win for education. Governor DeWine is a proponent of HB 158, which will prohibit cell phone use in the schools. It is not yet clear what that will look like.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS B to I were approved.

There was no NEW BUSINESS.

There was no OLD BUSINESS.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:49 PM.

The following members of the board/council were present: Tracy Campbell, Tonia Epple, Kelly Rich, Sara Scott. Absent was Kristin Bedford

Was there a public notice of the meeting that included the time and place of meeting: Yes

Was an agenda of the meeting or handouts available to visitors: Yes

Are minutes from previous meetings posted/available: Yes
https://go.boarddocs.com/oh/streetsboro/Board.nsf/Public

Name of Observer: Diana L. Skok