Date of Meeting: 5/16/2022
Format: In-person
Meeting Summary:
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. There were approximately 50 community members in attendance. After the pledge of allegiance, the roll call, and a motion to adopt the agenda, a representative from the Lions Club presented the monthly "Good Award" to three students (elementary, middle school, high school) who were nominated by their respective schools for exemplary academic and extracurricular performance.
Next on the agenda was time for community comments. The Board allows 20 minutes for this portion of the agenda, and each speaker is allotted a maximum of 3 minutes. In anticipation that most individuals were there to speak about the matter of rehiring the high school girls soccer coach, Jason Opritiza, for the 2022-2023 school year, Board president Mullaly provided a brief overview of the situation. He stated that they had received a couple of complaints after the soccer season had ended and had discussed the matter as a Board. At that time, three Board members said they would not vote to rehire the coach. As a courtesy, Board president Mullaly met with Coach Opritiza on May 5 to inform him of this. That information was made public, including a story that ran in the May 11 edition of The Portager (online newsletter), and prompted a strong turnout at this School Board meeting to express support for Coach Opritiza.
During the community comments portion of the meeting, three members of the girls' soccer team gave emotional statements in support of Coach Opritiza. The captain of the team spoke of their undefeated conference record, their league championship, and Opritiza being selected as Coach of the Year. She declared Coach Opritiza the best coach she had ever played for in 14 years. A second student spoke emotionally about her struggles with anxiety and how Coach Opritiza had helped her to cope with this and to be able to enjoy playing soccer again. A third student asked that if the Board is scrutinizing coach absences they should do so for all sports. Four parents spoke. One stated it was wrong that Board members were convening outside of scheduled meetings and called for the Ohio School Board Association to be made aware of this. Another parent asked what is the Board policy regarding how they operate when there is an apparent conflict of interest (it had been reported that the replacement for Coach Opritiza would be the husband of Board member Jennifer Curall). One parent declared Jason to be the best coach his daughter has had, due to his positive, supportive approach. One simply asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Also during the community comment time, a parent and grandparent of Rootstown students expressed concern about the relative lack of attention given to the arts and academics compared to athletics. School publicity and investment in the physical plant seem to disproportionately favor athletics.
At 6:27 the Board moved into executive session to consider the employment of a public employee or official. At 6:51 they came out of the executive session. Following executive session, the Board voted on a motion to hire Jason Opritiza as the high school head girls soccer coach for the 2022-2023 school year. The vote was 5-0 in favor.
Treasurer Connie Baldwin provided a semi-annual update on the five-year financial forecast for the district. She reported that two renewal levies had just been approved by voters two weeks ago. She also reported that because over the past few years the Board had opted to bundle levies into pairs and put them on a 10-year cycle the next operating levy renewal will be in 2030. She also explained that the State Department of Education has changed the funding formula so that funding is now allocated based on where a student is educated and not where a student lives. This change has proved to be beneficial to Rootstown schools because although their state and open enrollment revenues have decreased by $1.7 million, they are no longer paying out $2.3 million in tuition for Rootstown residents who are attending school outside of the district. She also reported that the district has changed from Mahoning County to Summit County Educational Services Center to service special education students and anticipates that this will result in some cost savings.
The Board approved a number of resolutions pertaining to spending including payment of insurance waiver stipends to employees who didn't take their insurance this year; purchase of three new school buses that will be partially paid for by the Ohio Schools Council; payment in lieu of transportation for nine private school students living in Rootstown; renewal of several contracts for auditing and consulting services.
The Board voted to accept the resignations of five staff members, including the middle school principal James Conley effective August 31, 2022. The Board approved teacher and staff appointments for the 2022-2023 school year, the textbook adoption of EL Curriculum for K-5 Language Arts curriculum, and two student handbooks (school band and middle school).
The Board voted to approve a 3-year contract with the Rootstown Education Association.
The Board approved the tentative list of 101 graduating seniors for the 2021-2022 school year. Graduation will be on June 5 at the KSU Student Center Ballroom.
The elementary, middle school and high school principals provided information about upcoming end-of-school-year events such as concerts, awards ceremonies, and field days. The last day of school for students will be June 3.
Superintendent Hawkins reported that the district is in compliance with the USDA Nutrition Standards.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Which members of the board/council were present: Jennifer Curall, Paul McEwuen, Craig Mullaly, Tom Siciliano, Amanda Waesch
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
Name of Observer: Rhonda Richardson