BOE- February Meeting Highlights

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Feb 10, 2017

February 2017- Board of Education Meeting Summary

Presentations:

TSD Celebrates STEM!

STEM Update: Sarah Roche K-2 STEM

3-5 grades 24 hours of STEM per cycle
Beginning a Buddy Program to expand to K-2 children, delivered by 3-5 students
Ms. Roche co-teaches the lessons with the regular classroom teachers
Utilizing collaborative learning spaces at Kramer
Completed an “Engineering Design Process”
Utilizing the designs with the #D printers
Using a webcam to project designs onto the TV
Roanoke VA STEM conference- Hummingbird Robotics, Makey Makey, Tinker are the 3 presentations they will present
Logo Robotics 5-8 graders were provided a STEM information night, 36 totals students have joined the program

STEM at TMS: Ryan Barter

Teaching communication and collaboration skills in STEM...for the future
8th graders went to a STEM Event at Miami Middletown- some highlights included a “virtual reality set”
It is helping students explore options other than 4 year college programs in career tech, and highlighting some programs at Butler Tech
Also utilizing the 3D printers and the sewing machines in their “Maker Space”
There is collaboration between a 5th grade class at Marshall and 8th graders via computer
CAD and auto-desk-adventure is also being explored
THS also has a Maker Space and an Engineering Class (CCP option)
Adrianne Ruther received a sustainability award for her work with students on the THS outdoor classroom/wetlands area

STEM at THS: Andy Zimmerman

Digital Productions

Provide real world experience- ICRC TV partnership. Our kids perform work as a real production crew. The live broadcasts are amazing!
NEW HD cameras working with professional equipment (worth a $ half million)
Live broadcasts of select events at THS
Add design and graphic media design for businesses
Pixel art design
Shape repetition design
The students designed the marketing and advertising for the THs Theater department productions this year

Game Design/Programming

WRAITH (founder is a a Fairfield grad) came to work directly with students
Second level class working with Sinclair College- coding in 3D programming in javascript
ZULAMA- free course today...collaboration with BCESC

District Policy Update: Dennis Malone

School Safety Update
Evaluation Systems- For counselors (follows the system like OTES)
Crowd funding- must be approved by either a school administrator/superintendent)
Technology- minor correction...a line was struck regarding the makeup of the district committee

Board Liaison Reports

Lois Vollmer- Butler Tech- Organization meeting

Policy on graduation will likely change into one large graduation (Fairfield HS) May 17th
The BT Board will host a spring Retreat

MJ Roberts- Legislative

ESSA- Continue to review the full draft, and she encourages everyone to review it online and to reach out to elected officials with concerns

Regular BOE Meeting:

Treasurer Report Highlights:

Kramer Auction- February 11th at 10am
Kramer Abatement starts on Wednesday February 15th
Still looking for organizations that might be interested in the extra dirt harvested from the Kramer site
Kasich Budget- The Governor has advertised a 2% increase across the state for public schools. Kasich is interested in possibly eliminating “the guarantee”, TSD presently looks like they will stay on the guarantee for the present time. He is also looking at transportation funding for some schools. TSD will NOT experience an increase in 2018, nor receive a reduction in funds
Storage (pole barn) for THS. Cap of $65K project cost. The district has 2 bids.
Amtrak Station in the community- 909 Collins Run Rd is the desired site
Tax Incentive Financing- TIF- trading tax revenues to pay to develop a property- Introduction to the potential concept
The TSD Treasurer’s office is working towards going paperless

Superintendent Report:

The TMS Bel Canto Trip has been approved for the Competition Chicago. Approved!
State Testing structure regarding over-testing/graduation requirements/ESSA
Superintendents across Ohio have made recommendations regarding amending the K-3 literacy piece, report card structure (opposing the lowering the sub-group numbers), amendments to the attendance guidelines. Ohio has dropped from #5 to #26, and are not following recommendations that could help this issue
Graduation Requirements concerns...on 2/23/17 there is a meeting to discuss other possible suggestions for changes to this
Strategic Plan Updates and Request:

There may be a recommendation for Gifted funds and assessments. This may include information regarding a data-system platform.
FYI...our district smartboards are reaching the end-of life phase in some buildings
We may look into cyber insurance
We are looking into a student registration software

Information Items for Board

Next Meeting March 27th