To view the August 2025 meeting of the Celina Board of Education:

Click Here

The following is an AI Generated summary of the Celina Board of Education Meeting:

1. The meeting was called to order, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and roll call was taken. Troop 69 was welcomed. An agenda item (staff presentation on New York City trip) was struck due to a staff member's absence to tend to a sick child. The agenda was subsequently set by board motion.

   Agenda set with the removal of the staff presentation on the New York City trip.

2. Facilities Updates

   Phil Metz provided updates on the elementary and high school buildings. Elementary: The finished top coat on the asphalt in all parking areas is complete. Sealing of the drive off Portland Street (the former front entrance of the CIS building) and striping of parking spots are scheduled for tomorrow. Playground fencing posts are in, with fence installation scheduled for tomorrow. The punch list is complete. Repair and restoration work to the brick, managed by Tim Swords from OFCC, was split into two segments due to OFCC's signing authority guidelines, though it is one continuous project for sealing and tuckpointing. High School: All flat work is done, and the building is now fully connected, creating a unified space. Steel studs are complete on the third floor, with HVAC rough-ins, including individual room air handlers (VAV boxes), and fire suppression lines in place. Electrical and plumbing rough-ins are also complete on the third floor. On the second floor, studs are in, and above-ceiling drywall is done. Roof decking is being finished across the cafetorium and competition gym, with the final membrane to be sealed soon for watertightness.

   Elementary building nearing completion; high school building progressing, with full roofing expected around November (to be confirmed).

3. November Board Meeting Date Change

   Due to a scheduling conflict with a conference for Michelle and Brooke, the board discussed moving the November meeting from the 17th to the 24th, which falls during Thanksgiving week. The change was approved.

   Board agreed to move the November meeting to November 24th.

4. Public Participation: State Funding Clarification

   Teresa questioned discrepancies in reported state funding shortfalls: $651,630 for FY25-26, $370,679 for FY26-27, totaling $1,022,309, versus $1.6 million reported in the paper. Discussion clarified that the $1.6 million figure in the paper was potentially a mistake by Brooke, and that the loss in year one compounds. The board acknowledged the need for a public statement once documentation is reviewed, noting that the final budget from the state is still an estimate based on simulations.

   Board will clarify the funding shortfall amount for the community after reviewing documentation.

5. Treasurer's Report: FY25 Final Numbers and Approvals

   Michelle presented the final numbers for FY25. Revenue ended favorably by $181,293 compared to the May forecast, and expenditures were favorable by $249,879. A significant transfer of $2,808,691 was made to the capital projects fund. Overall, revenue exceeded expenditures by $761,632. The ending cash balance in the general fund on June 30th was $13,756,636. The Board approved the minutes for the July 9th, July 21st, and July 30th meetings. They also approved the July cash summary report, showing revenues at $13,498,352.97 and expenditures at $6,767,914.27. The cash reconciliation report, showing a balance of $77,342,027.04 (with $46,449,179.26 allocated for the building project), was approved, along with checks written for July. Furthermore, FY26 temporary appropriations (primarily for grant allocations) were approved, as were change order 136 for $101,595.25 and change order 136A for $78,541.10, both for co-funded exterior brick repairs on the CIS portion of the PK-6 renovation.

   All financial reports and approvals passed.

6. Donations

   Board accepted donations: Midmark items valued at $28,624 for TriStar MedPrep, and $5,000 from Magdalene White's donor advised fund for student needs.

   Donations accepted.

7. Personnel Items and Compensation Adjustments

   Board approved personnel items, a 3% increase to executive secretaries' base salary for the 2025-2026 contract year, a change in factor for assistant treasurer payroll/benefits from 0.81 to 0.84 effective August 1, 2025, the appointment of 3 athletic supervisors at $25/hour as needed, and an adult education instructor at $55/hour.

   Personnel and compensation changes approved.

8. Transportation: Bus Routes Approval

   The Board approved the presented bus routes for the 2025-2026 school year. Brooke requested the addition of PM routes to be published alongside AM routes, providing families with approximate pick-up and drop-off times. There were no major changes to the routes. It was noted that times are approximate for the first three to four weeks of transportation as routes smooth out. The total number of students transported was requested by a board member but was not immediately available, though the information can be provided later.

   Bus routes approved; board to be provided with total student transportation numbers later.

9. OSBA Annual Business Meeting Delegate Appointment

   The Board needed to appoint a delegate and an alternate for the OSBA annual business meeting, scheduled for Monday, November 17th at 2:30 PM. Jon, who had a positive experience as a delegate last year, volunteered to serve as the delegate again, and Carl volunteered as the alternate.

   Jon appointed as delegate, Carl as alternate.

10. Head Start Report and Grant Submission

    Board reviewed the Head Start report and approved the submission of a one-time supplemental funds grant for nutrition and healthy eating for Head Start children and families. The grant application aims to provide services, supplies, education, and support to improve child health and nutrition.

    Head Start report accepted and grant submission approved.

11. TriStar Purchases and Reimbursements

    Board approved the purchase of a CNC lathe for manufacturing and machining technologies for TriStar at a total cost of $71,999. This purchase is funded by grant money held with the Mercer County Civic Foundation and requires approval from all partnering districts. The board also approved a reimbursement of $675 to Taylor Hess for training she provided, to be paid out of the Perkins grant.

    TriStar purchase and reimbursement approved.

12. Executive Session

    Board moved into executive session. No action was to be taken after the session.