The Tecumseh Local Schools District’s Board of Education (BOE) members elected officers and discussed the school district’s proposed budget for the 2017 school year during special meetings held at 6:30 on January 12, 2016 in Tecumseh High School’s Arrow Conference Center. BOE member Dan Studebaker was absent.
At 6:30 pm, Tecumseh Local Schools Treasurer, Ms. Debra Schock, led the district’s annual public budget hearing. Schock walked BOE members through a list of the district’s current revenues, expenditures, and proposed budget items; she also answered questions regarding how the district has shown it has been “fiscally responsible” over the past year. Schock shared that the district has saved residents two million dollars via refinancing the district did three years ago. She expressed how the afterschool “Latchkey” program has been struggling; however, after closely watching its budget, the program is making changes that are improving the program’s operations and financial outlook. Schock also mentioned how a grant written and submitted to the state by the Agricultural Education teacher helps to meet the payroll and benefits for that position. More of Tecumseh’s Local Schools’ financial information can be found on the district’s website.
Tecumseh Local Schools District’s BOE president Pro-tem Peter Scarff presided as the BOE organizational meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. Schock was then sworn into another year of service as District Treasurer by District Superintendent Norm Glismann. BOE members Peter Scarff and Corrine Scott were sworn into service by Schock. BOE member Kurt Lewis was elected and sworn into the office of BOE President, and Mert Christmann was elected and sworn into the office of BOE Vice-President.
The Tecumseh BOE set the dates of the 2016 meetings, which will be published on the district’s webpage. All Board of Education meetings are open to the public and have have normally been held at Tecumseh High School’s Arrow Conference Room. New BOE member Corrine Scott suggested the meetings rotate between all of the schools within the district in order to encourage more parent and resident participation. Members agreed they would do some research into whether or not such a change to BOE meetings would be feasible.
BOE members were appointed to various Liaison and committee positions within the district. Dan Studebaker will serve as OSBA Legislative Liaison; Christmann will serve as the OSBA Legislative Alternate and as Athletics Liaison; Lewis will serve on the newly-formed Finance Committee and as Liaison to the Tecumseh Education Foundation; Scarff will serve on the Academic Hall of Honors committee; and Scott will serve as Music Liaison and on the Negotiations Team. A second member of the Negotiations Team will be announced at a later date.
Board members elected Scott to serve on the Springfield/Clark CTC Board from January 2016 through December 2017. They also adopted a resolution to allow the Tecumseh Local Schools District Superintendent and Treasurer to hire, accept resignations, and impose discipline upon district employees during those times the Tecumseh BOE is not in session; all of which are subject to final approval by the Board.
Following the BOE organizational meeting, Lewis conducted a special meeting session where the BOE members completed regular Tecumseh Local Schools District business.
Board members approved the minutes of the December 15, 2015 Tecumseh BOE meeting. There was no old business to discuss.
Under new business, the BOE accepted the resignation of Timothy Sergent as Donnelsville Elementary Custodian; they also approved the employment of Carol (Lisa) Heitzman into the position of Secretary of the Tecumseh Transportation Dept., as well as the employment of Amanda Smith as a substitute Latchkey program aide and Mitchell Gehret into a classified substitute position.
In keeping with the theme of fiscal responsibility and efficiency, Schock presented information regarding how making a change from the current custodial supply company could result in significant savings for the school district. Glissman expressed concerns about the food costs the district has been incurring by paying for employee meals at conferences and other events where food is not included in the event fees. He recommended that the district discontinue such food expenditures. He also recommended a closer look be taken at the way mileage is paid out to its employees in order to see where money might be saved.
There were no comments or concerns raised by community members attending the BOE meeting. At the close of the evening, Glissman informed BOE members that January is “School Board Appreciation Month” and presented each school board member with a certificate of appreciation on behalf of students and members of the Tecumseh Local Schools District.
All Tecumseh BOE meeting are open to the public. Upon their approval, detailed minutes and other information regarding Tecumseh BOE meetings can be found at www.tecumseh.k12.oh.us under the “District” tab.
