NEWTON LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING AGENDA JANUARY 13, 2021 BOE Room
5:15 P.M. ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

A.	Call to Order

B.	Roll Call

5:15 p.m.

All present

C.	Pledge of Allegiance

E.	Appointment of Temporary Chairperson and Election of Board Officers

1.	Elected President – Nate Oburn

2.	Elected Vice President – Lane Robbins

Consent Agenda:

F.	Reorganization Agenda Action Items

1.	Board Delegate and Liaison to State and Local Networks: Proposed Resolution
a. Approve Nate Oburn to serve as Legislative Liaison Member to the OSBA. b. Approve Lane Robbins to the Community Recreation Board.
c. And, Approve Lisa Hildebrand to serve as Student Achievement Liaison Member for calendar year 2021.

2.	Establish Board Committees As Appointed by the President Proposed Resolution

	Finance/Grants Committee - 	Lisa Hildebrand	

	Buildings/Grounds Committee - 	Nate Oburn	

	Community Relations Committee -  Matt Downing	

	Education/Achievement Committee – Lane Robbins	

	Safety/Health/Wellness Committee - Bridget Haines	

3.	Consensus Adoption of Reorganization: Proposed Resolution (s)
Adopt the following items as listed upon consensus of the Board in one motion:

a. The regular monthly meeting day and time shall be the second Wednesday of each month at 5:15 P.M. in the Board Room beginning in the month of February 2021 unless otherwise stipulated.
b. For purposes of legal notices, the Newton Board of Education designates the Miami Valley 

Today as the official school newspaper for the 2021 calendar year.

c. To continue the authorization of the Superintendent to approve expenses within the amount of the appropriation set by the Board of Education for attendance of staff at professional meetings.
d. To continue the authorization of the Superintendent as the purchasing agent for the Newton Local Schools and given the authority herewith to bind the Newton Local Schools within the amount of the appropriation set by the Board of Education for payment of purchases for the calendar year 2021.

e. Continue the authorization of the Treasurer to request advance draws on real estate and personal tangible tax settlements from the Miami County Auditor when available during the 2021 calendar year.
f. Continue to authorize the Treasurer to invest monies from various funds of the Newton Local School District in short term investments and deposit the interest earned into the respective accounts according to board policy.
g. Continue board member reimbursement of $50 per meeting for up to 15 meetings per year. Board members will be reimbursed for each meeting attended as provided by O.R.C. 3313.12
h. Approve attendance of the board president at the OSBA 2021 School Board Presidents’ Workshop at board expense.
i. To continue the authorization of the Superintendent as the Board Designee in	suspension appeal hearings.
j. To use Frost, Brown, and Todd LLP as the Board’s legal advisor(s).

k. Approve Annual Membership Dues to the Ohio School Boards Association along with the annual Basic Briefcase subscription and contributions to the Legal Assistance Fund.
l. To continue the authorization of the Treasurer to sign the school checks so long as bills are within the amount appropriated by the Newton Board in its annual appropriation measure and authorized to borrow monies necessary to meet the operating needs of the Newton Local Schools during the 2021 calendar year in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State of Ohio.
m. To authorize the Superintendent, during periods when this Board is not in session, to make offers of employment directly to candidates for either teaching or non-teaching positions on behalf of this Board, and to acknowledge acceptance of such offers on behalf of the Board, subject to a subsequent vote of ratification by this Board; provided however, that upon ratification by this Board, the employment shall be deemed effective as of the date and time of the employee’s acceptance of the Superintendent’s offer. Nothing in this resolution shall require the Board of Education to employ or continue to employ an individual who has not provided a criminal records check satisfactory to the Board or who has not satisfied any other prerequisite to employment created by law or Board policy. The authorization provided by this resolution shall commence on approval at the annual organizational meeting and remain in effect through the 2021 calendar year.
n. To authorize the Superintendent, on behalf of this Board, to accept resignations which have been submitted by employees during times when this Board is not in session, subject to ratification by this Board; provided however, that upon ratification by this Board, such resignations shall be deemed effective as of the date and time of the Superintendent’s acceptance. The authorization provided by this resolution shall commence on approval at the annual organizational meeting and remain in effect through the 2021 calendar year.
o. To establish and use a Service Fund as provided for in Ohio Revised Code Section 3315.15 to pay training and orientation expenses incurred for training opportunities and attendance at professional meetings for board members. It is recommended the Service Fund for the Board of Education be established for calendar year 2021 in the amount of $2,000.00.
p. The Board of Education will appoint the treasurer as their public records designee for the 2021 calendar year.

Approve all action items contained in section F.

Roll Call:	Ayes __5___ Nays __0___ Motion _Passed ____

G.	Adjourned 5:20 p.m.

NEWTON LOCAL BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING AGENDA JANUARY 13, 2021 REGULAR MEETING
A.	Call to Order	5:20 p.m.

B.	Roll Call	(the record will reflect the attendance the same as org. meeting)

C.	Adopted of Board Agenda Items

D.	Principal Reported

E.	Public Participation Tara Schwartz spoke about the next steps to launching the Lifewise Academy

F.	Approved and Signed Minutes of December Meeting

G.	Treasurer Reported

Consent Agenda:

H.	Action Items

1.	Approved Alternative Tax Document

2.	Approved Donation and Recognition of Appreciation for Donations Proposed Resolution
It is the recommendation of the Superintendent to accept a donation from the Covington Eagles in the amount of $7,000 which will be designated for the construction of the Greenhouse and another $993 for scholarships to graduating seniors.

In addition, the Superintendent recommends to approve and recognize donations from the following:
Neal and Tante Pemberton - $5,000 Martin Peacock Family - $1,000 Fred and Cindy Kenworthy - $1,000

3.	Approved Positions/resignations

School Psychologist – Laurie Mitter $35.00/hour (acquired through ESC recommendation)
Varsity Softball Head Coach – Kirk Kadel

Boys JV Basketball Coach – Wade Wehrley (.5/.5 Neal Hans) JH Track Head Coach – Rebecca Nunemaker
JH Track Assistant Coach – Aliya Stine

JH Track Volunteer Coach – Shay Lafollette

Resignation of JV Softball Coach – Rebecca Chamberlain Resignation of Varsity Softball Assistant Coach – Taylor Stevens Varsity Softball Volunteer Coach – Rebecca Chamberlain Varsity Baseball Volunteer Coach – Tike Swank

4.	Approved School Released Time for Religious Instruction

It is the recommendation of the Superintendent that the Newton Local Board of Education cooperate with those parents who wish to provide tor religious instruction for their children but also recognize its responsibility to enforce the attendance requirements of the State. The Newton Local Board of Education authorizes a student to be excused from school to attend a Released Time Religious course, provided each of the following applies:

a. The student’s parent or guardian gives written consent;

b. The sponsoring entity maintains attendance records and makes them available to the district;
c. Transportation to and from the place of instruction, including transportation for students with disabilities, is the complete responsibility of the sponsoring entity, parent, guardian, or student;
d. The sponsoring entity provides and assumes liability for the student while under the control of the sponsoring entity;
e. No public funds are expended and no public school personnel are involved in providing Released Time Religious Instruction;
f. Students assume responsibility for any missed school work. However, no student may be released from a core academic subject class to attend Released Time Religious Instruction. While attending Released Time Religious Instruction, a student is not considered absent from school.

Nothing herein shall constitute an endorsement of religion or infringe upon an individual’s First Amendment rights.

References: Zorach v. Clauson, 343 U>S> 306 (1952); Ohio Revised Code 3313.6022

Motion to approve action items 1, 2, and 4.

Roll Call:	Ayes ___5__ Nays _0____

Motion to approve action item 3

Roll Call	Ayes 	4  Nays 	0	     Abstain  1 – Haines 

I.	Superintendent Reported 

J.	Adjourned 5:40 p.m.