HCS board hears presentation on functional classroom work experience MULTIMEDIA
Lead Summary
By
Brandy Chandler-brandychandler@gmail.com
Utilizing the district's proficiency in technology to inform the board on programming for special-needs students, a Hillsboro City Schools educator gave a presentation Wednesday on functional classroom work experience.
Mendy Hamilton, a special education supervisor, gave a PowerPoint presentation on a SMART Board on the program that gives high school students with special needs the opportunity to gain work experience while performing jobs at the school. She introduced student Matt Davis, who works in the cafeteria. Other students make jewelry and headbands that are sold in the school spirit store and at sporting events.
Hamilton said that 90 percent of typical students have some type of part-time work or work experience. Among special-needs students, that number is only 36 percent. Without work experience, the special-needs students are more likely to be underemployed or unemployed or on some type of public assistance.
The district is now trying to develop a program with the Elks Club to develop a council that will help in the creation of more training opportunities in the community and possibly developing a restaurant training program out of the club.
"This is a practical approach that leads to a meaningful transition after high school," Hamilton said.
Davis explained to the board the responsibilities of his job, which include taking care of the salad and potato bar in the cafeteria.
Hillsboro Superintendent Rick Earley said that Davis "carries himself well. He's a great young man, and his mom and dad should be proud."
Board president Laura Bagshaw thanked Hamilton for the presentation and said that she was glad to see a staff member utilizing the district's technology.
In other district technology news, board president Laura Bagshaw said that the board had received their iPads but had not been trained on them yet.
During the board's July meeting, they voted to purchase iPads for each of the five board members, at an estimated $600 each.
During their August meeting, board member Ken Shull said that he was disappointed that the district's purchase of the iPads overshadowed the work that had been done over the year to achieve a $900,000 surplus. Over time, Shull said, the iPad purchase will save the district money.
With 18 board meetings a year, and stacks of paper that can be inches thick each board member must have for each meeting, Shull said, "We can recapture that $3,000 cost within a year or less with our savings of the copy costs of the (board) packets."
During Wednesday's meeting, Bagshaw and board member Bill Myers utilized their iPads, while Shull, Sam Barnhouse and Beverly Rhoads did not.
During board committee reports, Shull, the finance committee chair, reported that during the first four months of the fiscal year, "July, August, September and October, we have spent $200,000 less than we did the first four months of last year. However, as was stated last month, we have problems on the revenue side. We had $1.1 million less revenue for the first four months of this year. As a consequence, we're only reporting a surplus of the first four months of $600,000 roughly, versus $1.5 million for the first four months of last year. That entire $900,000 difference, again, is due to underfunding on the revenue side. We continue to do good on the expenditure side. (District treasurer Debbie Lawwell) is still thinking we'll have a surplus for the year. I think we will be able to break even, despite the lack of funding on the revenue side."
Lawwell reported that the cash balance for the month was $4,744,587, compared to one year ago when it was $4,724,471. The monthly expenses were $1,882,175.
This time last year, the district had projected the spending might go into the red by the end of the fiscal year, but the district ended the year with a $900,000 surplus.
In other business:
• The board voted 6-0 to re-appoint Rhoads as a representative to the Great Oaks board. While appointments are only for one year, Rhoads said that she has been asked to stay on longer in order to work on the school's strategic plan.
• The board voted 6-0 to move their next regular meeting from Wednesday, Dec. 21 to Monday, Dec. 12 in order to accommodate a board member's absence. They also voted to hold the organizational meeting on Jan. 9.
• The board members congratulated Earley and the staff and students of HHS for the Veterans Day ceremony that was held Nov. 11. Earley said that the veterans, as well as the students, enjoyed it, and it's a program they hope to continue each year.
• Bagshaw reported that the HHS FFA chapter attended the student achievement fair of the Ohio School Board Association, focusing on the district's barn and the hands-on experience is allows them.
• Th board voted 6-0 to approve a bid for a school bus at a cost of $2,000. Lawwell said that they received one bid. The bus is a late 1990s model with more than 200,000 miles on it. $2,000 was the minimum bid for the sale.
• The board voted 6-0 to approve a bid from Josh Wilkin for snow removal at a cost of $35 per house per truck. Lawwell said that is the same the district paid as last year.
• The board voted 6-0 to approve a transfer of $38,853 to make a yearly payment on gym bleachers and the construction of the bus barn.
Utilizing the district's proficiency in technology to inform the board on programming for special-needs students, a Hillsboro City Schools educator gave a presentation Wednesday on functional classroom work experience.
During the board's regular meeting Wednesday, Mendy Hamilton, a special education supervisor, gave a PowerPoint presentation on a SMART Board on the program that gives high school students with special needs the opportunity to gain work experience while performing jobs at the school. She introduced student Matt Davis, who works in the cafeteria. Other students make jewelry and headbands that are sold in the school spirit store and at sporting events.
Hamilton said that 90 percent of typical students have some type of part-time work or work experience. Among special-needs students, that number is only 36 percent. Without work experience, the special-needs students are more likely to be underemployed or unemployed or on some type of public assistance.
The district is now trying to develop a program with the Elks Club to develop a council that will help in the creation of more training opportunities in the community and possibly developing a restaurant training program out of the club.
"This is a practical approach that leads to a meaningful transition after high school," Hamilton said.
Davis explained to the board the responsibilities of his job, which include taking care of the salad and potato bar in the cafeteria.
Hillsboro Superintendent Rick Earley said that Davis "carries himself well. He's a great young man, and his mom and dad should be proud."
Board president Laura Bagshaw thanked Hamilton for the presentation and said that she was glad to see a staff member utilizing the district's technology.
In other district technology news, board president Laura Bagshaw said that the board had received their iPads but had not been trained on them yet.
During the board's July meeting, they voted to purchase iPads for each of the five board members, at an estimated $600 each.
During their August meeting, board member Ken Shull said that he was disappointed that the district's purchase of the iPads overshadowed the work that had been done over the year to achieve a $900,000 surplus. Over time, Shull said, the iPad purchase will save the district money.
With 18 board meetings a year, and stacks of paper that can be inches thick each board member must have for each meeting, Shull said, "We can recapture that $3,000 cost within a year or less with our savings of the copy costs of the (board) packets."
During Wednesday's meeting, Bagshaw and board member Bill Myers utilized their iPads, while Shull, Sam Barnhouse and Beverly Rhoads did not.
During board committee reports, Shull, the finance committee chair, reported that during the first four months of the fiscal year, "July, August, September and October, we have spent $200,000 less than we did the first four months of last year. However, as was stated last month, we have problems on the revenue side. We had $1.1 million less revenue for the first four months of this year. As a consequence, we're only reporting a surplus of the first four months of $600,000 roughly, versus $1.5 million for the first four months of last year. That entire $900,000 difference, again, is due to underfunding on the revenue side. We continue to do good on the expenditure side. (District treasurer Debbie Lawwell) is still thinking we'll have a surplus for the year. I think we will be able to break even, despite the lack of funding on the revenue side."
Lawwell reported that the cash balance for the month was $4,744,587, compared to one year ago when it was $4,724,471. The monthly expenses were $1,882,175.
This time last year, the district had projected the spending might go into the red by the end of the fiscal year, but the district ended the year with a $900,000 surplus.
In other business:
• The board voted 6-0 to re-appoint Rhoads as a representative to the Great Oaks board. While appointments are only for one year, Rhoads said that she has been asked to stay on longer in order to work on the school's strategic plan.
• The board voted 6-0 to move their next regular meeting from Wednesday, Dec. 21 to Monday, Dec. 12 in order to accommodate a board member's absence. They also voted to hold the organizational meeting on Jan. 9.
• The board members congratulated Earley and the staff and students of HHS for the Veterans Day ceremony that was held Nov. 11. Earley said that the veterans, as well as the students, enjoyed it, and it's a program they hope to continue each year.
• Bagshaw reported that the HHS FFA chapter attended the student achievement fair of the Ohio School Board Association, focusing on the district's barn and the hands-on experience is allows them.
• Th board voted 6-0 to approve a bid for a school bus at a cost of $2,000. Lawwell said that they received one bid. The bus is a late 1990s model with more than 200,000 miles on it. $2,000 was the minimum bid for the sale.
• The board voted 6-0 to approve a bid from Josh Wilkin for snow removal at a cost of $35 per hour per truck. Lawwell said that is the same the district paid as last year.
• The board voted 6-0 to approve a transfer of $38,853 to make a yearly payment on gym bleachers and the construction of the bus barn.
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