The New Bremen Local Board of Education met in regular session at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Community Room.

Roll Call:  Mrs. Michele Bambauer, Mr. Scott Bertke, Mrs. Shelly Busse, Mr. Cory Suchland, and Mrs. Suzanne Wells. Also present were Superintendent Jason Schrader, K-6 Principal Diane Kramer, 7-12 Principal Marcus Overman, and Treasurer Jill Ahlers.  

President Shelly Busse led the pledge of allegiance.

K-6 Principal, Diane Kramer, submitted the following report:

1.	Continuous improvement
•	Our PBIS team has decided on a districtwide motto, “Protect the Nest” with NEST standing for N – Never Give Up, E – Excellence, S –Show Respect, T – Teamwork.  We are in the process of surveying students on what “NEST” means to them as our team continues to work on our PBIS initiative.
•	Marcus and I have been working with Wendi Moorman with MCESC on evaluating our gifted service delivery and looking at recommendations for next year.

2.	Instruction
•	Monday we received the results of the Third Grade State Reading Test that was administered in October.  Eighty-six percent of our students met the requirements of Third Grade Reading Guarantee. Students who did not pass will be invited to after school intervention which will take place two days a week starting in February.  

3.	 School Operations, Resources and Learning Environment
•	The interior designer with Garmann-Miller met with grade levels and departments on Monday to look at furniture options for the new building.  Final decisions will need to be made in January.
•	The administrative staff has been meeting with Brian Puthoff to look at redesigning our school webpage.  Focus will be on making the site more current and user friendly for students, parents, and the community.
•	Our sixth grade students went on their annual field trip to Victoria Theater on December 10th.

4.	Collaboration
•	Darlene Gilberg’s 4th grade students are completing their unit on entrepreneurship with a project making and selling chocolate covered pretzel rods.  Students learned about the steps involved in starting their own business with all proceeds being donated to charity.

5.	Parent and Community Engagement
•	On Tuesday, November 26thour kindergarten classes held their annual Grandparents Day program.  Students sang songs for their grandparents and served them punch and popcorn.  After the program grandparents were invited to visit the kindergarten classrooms and meet the teachers.  We had over 200 grandparents in attendance.
•	Our annual second grade musical will be held Thursday, December 12th at 9:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  This year’s musical is entitled A Holiday Road Trip.  Miss Smith, the second grade teachers, and students have been busy preparing for the musical!
•	The Middle School Band Concert will be held December 16th at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
•	Cardinal Pride is sponsored a Santa Shop last week for grades K-5.  This was an opportunity for students to purchase inexpensive Christmas gifts for family members.

6.	 Special Education
•	Mrs. Burnett’s cross categorical unit will be hosting a Christmas craft sale for students and staff in the elementary.  Students are learning about purchasing, selling, earning profits, and customer service.

7-12 Principal, Marcus Overman, submitted the following report:

Continuous Improvement
-	Wendi Moorman has been in the district several times since our last board meeting.  She has met with Diane and I to go over several items as well as worked with teachers to help with best practices for our gifted population.  
-	SecureCom was in all of last week to install new equipment in the high school.  They worked to install new cameras in locations we did not have them as well as putting a door buzzer and camera on the back door to allow kids to enter throughout the school day.  

Instruction
-	End-of-course re-takes took place last week.  We had several students participating in the re-takes, trying to earn more points to go towards their graduation requirements.  
-	Scheduling for the 2020-21 school year is upon us.  The Course Description book has been distributed to teachers for the upcoming school year.  I have scheduled meetings with middle school students to talk about scheduling.  8th Grade Orientation is in the near future, and shortly following that will be meetings with the underclassmen to get their requests in.  
-	Exam Schedules have been distributed to the students for both the middle and high school.  Juniors and Seniors will again have the option of exempting one exam if they meet all of the required criteria.  

School Operations, Resources & Learning Environment
-	Graduation Requirements 2023 & Beyond

-	Policies
o	Locally defined seals
o	Policy that requires students to participate in testing in order to be promoted to the next grade level?
-	More guidance over Graduation Requirements is expected to come out this week, and then even more in March.  I plan to hold meetings with students soon after returning from break to give them as much information as I can.  

Collaboration
-	This month’s county principal meeting was focused around new graduation requirements.  Every school from Auglaize and Mercer County had a representative to listen to Apollo, Tri Star, and a lady from ODE speak about the new requirements and the plan of action needed moving forward.  There are still unanswered questions that will hopefully be cleaned up by the beginning of March.  I plan to talk to underclassmen about these changes soon after we return from the holiday break.  

Parent & Community Involvement
-	Our first Cardinal Character Award was presented last week to Lydia Heckman.  I want to congratulate and thank Lydia for the character she displays inside and outside of school.  Three more awards will be given out during the basketball season.  
-	Loresa Burden and the Student Council hosted the Gingerbread House Competition again this year.  Students must pay to enter the competition and the proceeds go towards sponsoring less fortunate families in the community.  
-	As part of the Cardinal Campaign, Gary and I will be meeting with student-athletes this week to ask them to write a thank you to donors for the campaign.  I think this is a great way to recognize those individuals who gave back to the students.  

Upcoming Events
Monday, December 16th
	-Middle School Band Concert 7:30
Tuesday, December 17th
	-High School Band Concert 7:30
Wednesday, December 18th
	-Exams
Thursday, December 19th
	-Exams
Friday, December 20th
	-Exams
	-Staff Christmas Party

Athletic Director, Gary Jones, submitted the following report:

1.	We have replaced the ice machine in the junior high with a system the same as at the high school. That machine will eventually be placed in the CBC

2.	The new basketball scoreboards, backboard lighting and delay clocks are ready to go for our opening boys game on Friday night with New Knoxville. We hope to have the locker room clocks also ready by Friday.

3.	Reminder that we will be playing the December 27 boys game with Riverside and the December 28 girls game with Lehman Catholic at the junior high gym. There will be a gathering at the Legion on Friday December 27, after the boys’ game. 

4.	Last month we had a large number of fall accomplishments for our student athletes. We can include Mitchell Hays for earning 2nd team d VII All Ohio in football

Technology, Brian Puthoff:

•	Bureau of Workers Compensation Grant Project Complete: Back in February, we applied for a $40,000 Bureau of Workers Compensation Grant that called for school districts to improve the health, safety and security of their schools. We were awarded the grant and received the money in September of this year. With this money, we were able to complete two projects:

1.	We purchased new, light-weight, mobile cafeteria tables for our elementary cafeteria. Our current tables are heavy, decades-old tables that are difficult to use and move around. These new, light-weight, mobile tables (similar to what we use in the high school) have already improved the health and safety of the cafeteria and custodial staff since these tables are on wheels and do not need to be carried. As an added bonus, these tables can be moved to the cafeteria of the new building, saving the district money in the new building project’s furniture budget.

2.	We added cameras and door electronics within the high school to improve student and staff safety and security. Twenty cameras were added in the high school (mostly interior cameras with a few exterior cameras) to improve the level of security coverage within the building. In addition, we added electronics to three exterior doors that allow us to better keep track of people coming into our building. These doors (two, north-side doors by the high school office and one, south-side door from the student parking lot) can now be unlocked using a key fob. As with any of these key-fob systems, we can now keep track of who enters our building because a log file is kept with the date/time of when someone enters our building. In addition, the student entry door (which also has a camera) can be remotely unlocked by the high school secretary after a student’s identity is verified. All of these improvements greatly help with the safety and security of our high school.

Treasurer’s Recommendations:

1.	Approve the Regular School Board Meeting minutes on October 16, 2019 and November 20, 2019.
2.	Approve the General Fund Paid Bills . . . . . .	   $	66,350.54	 
3.	Approve the Lunchroom Fund Paid Bills . . .    	   $	15,639.29	 
4.	Establish activity account for the Girls Basketball Parents (300-959D). Increase revenues and appropriations by $1,000.00.
5.	Accept a $200.00 donation from the Community Backpack+ program to be put towards the No-Shame Lunch Fund. We thank you for your generosity and support of our students!

19-70		Motion by Bertke second by Bambauer that the board approve the motions contained in the Treasurer’s recommendations as presented.  Upon the call of the roll, the vote was as follows: Bambauer, yes; Bertke, yes; Busse, yes; Suchland, yes; Wells, yes. Motion Carried.

Superintendent’s Recommendations

1.	Organizational Board Meeting
The N-B Board needs to establish a date for the organizational meeting and the January School Board Meeting:
a. 	The Administration would suggest combining these two meetings into one meeting as listed below.  A budget hearing is no longer required due to legislation that allows county auditor’s to waive the budget filing.  Auglaize County has formally waived the budget filing for Auglaize County.
b.	By law, the organizational meeting must be held during or before the first fifteen (15) days of January.
c.	Appoint a President Pro-Tem to preside over the Organizational Meeting until such time as a new Board President is elected:  Mrs. Shelly Busse
                  Meeting                                Date             	   Time                   Place             Organizational Meeting	  	January 15, 2020    	7:00 PM	Community Room
January Monthly Meeting	  	January 15, 2020 	7:15 PM	Community Room

2.	OSBA Membership
Authorize the school district membership with the OSBA.  New Bremen is a Charter Member since 1955.  This would include membership services and subscriptions to the OSBA Journal and Briefcase for the Board Members, Treasurer, Principals, and Superintendent.  

3.  Approve Brian Alig as a substitute bus driver.

4.   Approve Tri Star Advisory Board Referral #129
To allow on-line auction purchases of over $7500.00 without prior approval from the Tri Star Advisory Board and local school boards.  This will allow for significant savings.

5.   Approve Tri Star Advisory Board Referral #130
	Purchase of skid loader for $46,603.33.  The skid loader would be used in Construction, Ag. Mechanics, and Animal Health, plus be used for snow removal.  Funds used would come from the Building Fund, Reserve Capital Fund, and the Building Maintenance Budget Account.

19-71		Motion by Suchland, second by Wells that the Board approve the Superintendent recommendations as presented.  Upon the call of the roll, the vote was as follows: Bertke, yes; Busse, yes; Suchland, yes; Wells, yes; Bambauer, yes.  Motion carried.  

Other New Business:

A.	Depository Agreement

Approve the following Depository Agreement with First National Bank of New Bremen to be approved effective from January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2024 (5 years)

WHEREAS,	The Board of Education of the New Bremen Local School District, Auglaize County, Ohio, has requested, according to law, application for depository for active and interim/inactive funds for a period of five (5) years from January 1, 2020 and,

WHEREAS,	the First National Bank, New Bremen, Ohio, has submitted an application to accept funds of $4,000,000.00 for active and/or interim/inactive deposits or any part thereof, and,

WHEREAS,	the said application for active and/or interim/inactive funds has been accepted and approved by action of said Board of Education, and,

WHEREAS,	The Board of Education of the New Bremen Local School District shall compensate the First National Bank, New Bremen, Ohio, for service charges incurred from maintaining any active and/or interim/inactive fund accounts of the Board of Education of the New Bremen Local School District.

NOW  THEREFORE,	it is agreed by said First National Bank, New Bremen, Ohio, to accept said funds of the New Bremen Local School District, under control of said Board of Education until January 1, 2025, and said funds to be classified as active and/or interim/inactive funds and said deposits up to $250,000.00 is secured by the guarantee of deposits under the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and all deposits over $250,000.00 shall be secured by the deposit of securities of said bank according to law.

NOW  THEREFORE,	the First National Bank, New Bremen, Ohio, shall well and truly receive, receipt therefore, safely keep and pay over all monies which may come into its custody and control under and by virtues of this agreement of any deposit made or to be made by the Treasurer of said Board of Education, and shall safely perform all the duties imposed by law upon depositories of money, and then this contract shall be null and void; otherwise to remain in full force and effect.

19-72	         Motion by Bertke, second by Busse that the board approve the other new business items as presented.  Upon the call of the roll, the vote was as follows: Busse, yes; Suchland, yes; Wells, yes; Bambauer, yes; Bertke, yes. Motion Carried.

A.	Resolution
Approve the following resolution for the renovation of the high school to accommodate the addition of the 7th & 8th grade:

WHEREAS, the Board of Education of the New Bremen Local Schools (the “Board”) is undertaking New Bremen 7th & 8th Grade Renovation to renovate a portion of the existing high school building to accommodate the addition of the 7th & 8th grades.

WHEREAS, the Board’s Architect has prepared construction documents for New Bremen 7th & 8th Grade Renovation Project and reviewed the construction documents with the Board; and

WHEREAS, the Board wishes to approve the construction documents for the New Bremen 7th & 8th Grade Renovation Project and authorizes the Treasurer to place the required advertisements to solicit bids the required advertisements to solicit bids as required by Ohio Revised Code Section 3318.46.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Education of the New Bremen Local Schools as follows, that:
1.	The Construction Documents for the New Bremen 7th & 8th Grade Renovation Project, as presented to the Board, are approved, subject to any further review and approvals that may be required by the State of Ohio.
2.	The Treasurer is directed to place the required advertisements for the New Bremen 7th & 8th Grade Renovation Project to solicit bids for the Project.

19-73	         Motion by Wells, second by Bertke that the board approve the resolution as presented.  Upon the call of the roll, the vote was as follows: Suchland, yes; Wells, yes; Bambauer, yes; Bertke, yes; Busse, yes. Motion Carried.

	Other Old Business Items:

A.  School Board Member Compensation
According to advice from the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA), school boards should discuss in December the compensation of board members prior to the organizational meeting in order to avoid a conflict with the Ohio Revised Code.  The ORC indicates that board members cannot have a change in their compensation during his/her current term.  In December – 1997 the Board approved increasing the compensation to $40 per meeting not to exceed 24 compensated meetings effective January 1, 2000.

19-74	         Motion by Suchland, second by Bambauer that the board approve the other old business items as presented.  Upon the call of the roll, the vote was as follows: Wells, yes; Bambauer, yes; Bertke, yes; Busse, yes; Suchland, yes.  Motion Carried.

Informational Items

A.	Building Project Update
Construction is progressing well.  The Topping-Out ceremony will be held on December 20 at 11:00 a.m.

B.	Innovation Center Update 
The Robotics Club presented at Rotary and did an outstanding job.  We look forward to their input for some of the furnishings in the Innovation Center.  Planning continues for the programming/curriculum that will take place in the Innovation Center for our students. 

C.	Schools Closed for Christmas Holidays
The New Bremen Schools will be closed for the Christmas Holidays beginning Monday, December 23 through Friday, January 3.  School will resume on Monday, January 6.

D.	 Current Superintendent Committee Appointments

Superintendent Committee Appointments for 2019	
Tri Star Career Compact Advisory	Bertke	
Cardinal Pride Representative	Bambauer	
Athletic Council Representatives (2)  	Suchland/Busse	
OSBA Legislative Liaison/Delegate:	Bertke	
NBTA Negotiations Committee (2)	Wells/Busse	
Village Annex/Abatement/CIC member	Bertke	
Finance Committee Representative	Suchland	
Buildings/Grounds Committee Rep (2)	Bertke/Wells 	
Student Achievement Liaison (OSBA)	Suchland	
Technology Committee Rep	Busse	
Ag Advisory Committee Rep	Bambauer	
New Bremen Education Foundation	Busse	
Music Department Representative	Bambauer	

Executive Session:

A.	The Board or Superintendent may desire to adjourn to Executive Session for the express purpose of discussing:
☐ Personnel
           	☐ Appointment or Evaluation		☐ Promotion
                 	☐ Employment                    		☐ Demotion
      	☐ Dismissal                          		☐ Compensation

Investigation of Charges or Complaints Against an Employee, Official, or Student

            	☐ Discipline                          		☐

☐ Property Purchase or Sale
☐ Conferences with an Attorney Involving Pending or Imminent Court Action
☐ Negotiations (Preparing, Conducting, or Reviewing)
☒ Matters Required to be Kept Confidential by Fed/State Law
☒ Security Arrangements

19-75	         Motion by Bambauer, second by Bertke to adjourn to executive session for the purpose of Matters Required to Be Kept Confidential by Fed/State Law and Security Arrangements at 6:57 p.m.  Upon the call of the roll, the vote was as follows: Bambauer, yes; Bertke, yes; Busse, yes; Suchland, yes; Wells, yes. Motion Carried.

19-76            Motion by Suchland second by Bambauer to return to regular session at 8:17 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.

19-77	         Motion by Busse, second by Suchland to adjourn the meeting at 8:18 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.

				
			President							Treasurer