Meeting started at 5:31 PM by Board President Diana Autry with Summer Hall, Barbara Sykes, Carla Jackson, Bruce Alexander, Rene Molenaur present. VP Jackson led the chamber in the pledge

Superintendent Micheal Robinson recognized top reader students in the Superintendent Book Club and the schools with the most books read including Bridges CLC, Innes CLC, and North High School.

Jackson, Hall, Molenaur, and Alexander spoke about recent APS events and programs at APS schools including those to increase attendance, East CLC automotive shops, APS eclipse glasses, and students involved in Wednesdays State of The City Address

Autry said she attended the "make a joyful noise" music event at Butchel and the STEM High School robotics team's national championship and STEM's "excited" move. She also highlighted student ambassadors in her visit to Crouse CLC and Garfield CLC.

Robinson acknowledged national counseling awareness month and other upcoming holidays including earth day and library week and all paraprofessional staff. He recognized the East CLC auto program and Butchel Kindness programs for parent drivers and van drivers.

Board Approved minutes unanimously with Alexander abstaining from Monday March 15th Meeting without any discussion. Personally recommendations all passed unanimously except 11.4 which Molenaur voted against

Robinson recommended approval of the consent agenda and the board passed the consent agenda unanimously. The board also approved the Business Affairs Recommendations.

Autry thanked APS approved donors who provided resources. She said that they need to continue discussions about a levy proposal and the need for operating funds despite a bad levy climate. She also said that APS needs to be engaged with the public to express why APS needs a levy

Jackson, Sykes, and Hall spoke about community distrust in the budget process and spoke about concerns regarding transparency and teacher pays and salary. Molenaur thanked the financial officer for being transparent about what's causing budget issues.

Alexander and Molenaur spoke about the need for funding to provide for a new North High School building and other school programs. Autry said that board members must be engaged in the political process for APS

Robinson said that communication in the district to the community needs to be improved and that the district must build trust within the community by being out in the community sharing what they're doing well. Robinson said that he will be seeking public budget input.

Robinson said that the district needs to rightsize and cut and add certain positions. He also said that the district will not be fixed overnight and that the board needs to take time and be thoughtful about community driven change. He warned that equitable cuts will be necessary.

Alexander said that the district needs to market itself and show what APS has to offer and what APS students are doing. He also said that clusters must receive what they need to succeed. He also said that he supports levys to fund APS to support students.

The Chief Financial Officer said that despite property taxes going up, APS did not receive increased funding. He said that HB 920 (1976) which froze school funding without levy vote increases. APS is still using 2012 funding. Despite level funding expenses have increased.

He explained a general operating levy comes from property taxes to fund things including salaries and maintenance. He explained a permanent improvement levy or bond issue for the construction of North High School. The two levies will be linked into a single vote.

He explained that even with larger property taxes the district will remain in a deficit and that the district must move quickly with a levy proposal. Sykes commended the work of the financial office in passing audits and spoke about the funding needs of the district.

Sykes said that she intends to support the levy and that the district needs to reach their commitments to students and staff. She also said that students will suffer from bad financial decisions which must be avoided by tough decisions. She spoke about community engagement.

Sykes spoke about the board's responsibility to do what they need to do because of their responsibility to students and children and said that the district must provide resources to every APS student whether or not a levy is passed. Molenaur agreed with Sykes about transparency.

Robinson said that cuts to multiple programs and positions are coming and that there will be at least $15 million in cuts this year alone as well as possibly another 3 more years of cuts. He also warned that a state fiscal watch would hurt the district if cuts are not made.

Committee chairs gave reports about issues discussed at most recent committee meetings such as levies, social media policy, meeting transparency, financial literacy curriculum, and Equity within the Cornerstone of the APS strategic plan.

The board approved the summer school budget unanimously and Sykes said she supported the budget and Robinson explained that students will have to pay for summer programs and credit recovery. A staffer explained summer programming and student work based learning

The board went into executive session at 8:06PM to discuss the employment and employment complaints against an employee. Autry said that no further items would be voted on and called the chamber into recess.

Meeting adjourned at 8:06 PM. This concludes the APS Regular Boards Meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for April . For more coverage go to akron.documenters.org

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