Tough choices may be ahead if levy funds aren’t secured

The Milton-Union Exempted Village School District Board of Education met in regular session on September 16, with all five members present.

Notably, the September meeting served as a test subject for plans to livestream future meetings. Working in collaboration with WMPA Channel 5, board members learned that this meeting would be broadcast on the @wmpatv YouTube channel this time. October’s meeting, however, would be broadcast on a newly created stream on YouTube and marketed more to members of the community.

Hot topics included an in-depth review of the district’s state report card. Katie Hartley, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, reported that the district received 3.5 stars. This rating was half a star lower than the previous year’s rating. Chronic absenteeism, as well as improvements in both math and literacy at all grade levels, were listed as part of the district’s plan to improve upon this year’s rating.

“We want to do better,” said Dr. Brad Ritchey, superintendent. “We think we can do better than this. And we have.”

Board members also discussed potential changes to the public participation policy. Sample policies from districts including Parma, Centerville, Dublin, Heath and Madison Local were reviewed. The group agreed to review samples and discuss them during the October meeting.

Board Member Jessica Brumbaugh said, “I do feel that since we are going to start filming our meetings, this might be a good point to revisit this.”

Concerns regarding the upcoming November levy on the ballot loomed large. Treasurer Kari Magill reflected, “I do think, at some point, we need to discuss our plans barring the results in November.”

Members of the board agreed to hold a more detailed discussion of levy failure ramifications during the October meeting. The Milton-Union Education Association expressed its own desire for the board to communicate the potential impact of the levy’s passage or failure with the community as soon as possible. The group’s most urgent focus was for the board to share what the community would gain with a passing levy and what it would lose with a failing levy.

Dr. Ritchey and board members alike agreed that detailing potential cuts would be more difficult with this particular levy because the budget had already seen significant cuts.

“We operate very lean and, unfortunately, when you make cuts, it hurts,” said Vice President Ben Dehus.

The board voted to approve a contract with Elevate K-12 for $31,000. This program will provide a Spanish teacher providing virtual instruction throughout the school year for two periods of Spanish II daily. Students will be assisted on-site by an American Sign Language (ASL) instructor. This agreement became necessary due to a recent staff departure, and it will allow students studying Spanish to continue learning in that language.

“Finding a Spanish teacher in June or July is hard,” said Dr. Ritchey. “Finding a Spanish teacher after the school year starts is next to impossible.”

A $24.8 million appropriations resolution was passed for the 2024-2025 school year, and donations from Hoffman Global Methodist Church and Milton-Union Facilities Association were approved unanimously. An alternative placement contract between the district and Warren County Educational Service Center for two students was passed at a cost of $168,625. Tennis court drainage repairs were approved at an expense of $32,500, a rate significantly higher than initial quotes. The increased cost was attributed to three extra days of work needed after the contractor encountered a thick layer of limestone while excavating.

A number of supplemental, certified and substitute staff appointments were approved in the consent calendar. Milton-Union FFA was granted permission to attend the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis in October, and the eighth-grade class trip to Washington, D.C., through Classic Student Tours was also approved for May. A revised edition of the program of studies was adopted, with the only change being the addition of ASL. An agreement between the district and the Miami County Educational Service Center to provide resource coordination was also approved at no expense to the district.

It was announced Milton-Union Education Fund grant applications have been made available to teachers, and completed applications would be considered in October. Next meeting for the Board of Education is scheduled to be on October 21 at 6 p.m. in the media center.

The board adjourned to executive session under Board of Education Policy 0166 and ORC 121.22 (G)(1) to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, and compensation of an employee or official and ORC 121.22(G)(5) for a matter required to be kept confidential by federal law or rules or state statutes. The regular meeting adjourned after returning from executive session.