The Western Buckeye ESC Governing Board held its regular monthly Board meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at the Van Wert ESC office. Board President Mr. Billy Poe II welcomed Board members and school personnel to the meeting. Treasurer Kim Jones reviewed the current financial reports, investments and the monthly expenditures with the Board.
Superintendent Brian Gerber updated the Board on Governor Kasich’s proposed Executive Budget, Legislative Issues, Personnel items, and ESC activities. Mr. Gerber spent the majority of the meeting discussing Kasich’s proposed executive budget. “Governor Kasich is proposing a 25% cut in ESC funding over the next two years. During the past four years, the Governor has been advocating shared services to reduce cost. Western Buckeye ESC has reduced the cost to our partner schools through a shared services delivery model. The Governor’s proposal of a 25% funding cut will negatively impact our ability to reduce costs by sharing services. Without a shared services model, its possible our partner schools will see an increase in their spending throughout the next two years. It’s very hypocritical of the Governor to advocate shared services to reduce cost, then turn around and propose a 25% funding cut to the ESCs who lead in providing a shared services model to the schools they serve. Shared service delivery includes sharing Speech, Occupational, and Physical Therapists. We share School Psychologists, Gifted education personnel, and grant writing personnel. ESCs provide curriculum directors and special education directors to meet the needs of our partner schools. ESCs all over Ohio are providing similar academic and operational support services to schools every day to ensure every child in every zip code has access to high quality educational opportunities.
Other ESC instructional services include itinerant special education and related services staff, paraprofessional support, preschool special education support, 21st Century after-school programs, and Alternative Schools. Our Alternative School tailors curriculum around the emotionally disabled students to meet their specific learning needs. It effectively operates an Opportunity school that serves those students who need to recover credits in order to meet graduation requirements. The administration and staff at the Alternative/Opportunity School work together with our partner schools to support and develop a standards based curriculum that will allow their students to succeed and graduate. This is directly related to the economic vitality of our community and state. These students range from the most gifted to the most at-risk, including special needs students and other at-risk populations such as dropouts and adjudicated youth. I’ve been in this business long enough to know the Governor’s proposed executive budget is a process. The proposed budget has to go through House Hearings, Senate Hearings, and then Conference Committee, followed by passage. Fortunately, our Legislatures could see the value of the ESCs in Kasich’s first biennial budget four years ago and then again in his second biennial budget two years ago. Our Legislators applied common sense in reversing the Governor’s devastating funding cuts. Hopefully good common sense will continue to prevail over radical thinking. The most frustrating thing about this issue is that Ohio is much healthier financially than it was in the previous four years. With all factors in consideration, the 25% funding cut makes little sense.”
WBESC Fiscal Action Items:
A. Motion to extend a 1 year limited contract to Jenna Stoller-Sherry as Physical Therapist for the 2015-16 school year, contingent upon receiving licensure. Position will be effective August 1, 2015 for 190 days with salary set at $61,750.
B. Motion to accept retirement/disability resignation of Paula Lugibihl, Physical Therapist. Effective March 16, 2015 and thank her for her years of service to Western Buckeye Education Service Center and the children of Van Wert and Paulding County.
C. Motion to approve budget revisions for the following FY15 Grants:
• FY 15 Alternative School Grant
• FY15 21st Century Grant
D. Approve contract with Therapy Solutions to provide Physical Therapy services for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year.
Consent Items-FCFC:
A. Motion to approve the submission of the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund SFY16 and the HMG/Part C Subsidy Grant for SFY16.
B. Motion to approve the Calendar Year 2014 Paulding County FCFC Annual Report
C. Motion to approve necessary revision to the FCFC budget for 2013-14 year audit costs.
The Board meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m. with no additional Board action. The next regular Governing Board meeting of the Western Buckeye Educational Service Center will be on Wednesday, March 18, 2015 starting at 6:00 p.m. at the Paulding ESC office.
