Aurora School Superintendent Advisory Council

Aurora (Ohio) City School District Superintendent Advisory Council
​April 24, 2025 - Kohanski Conference Center

 Welcome  - Mike Roberto, Superintendent of the Aurora City Schools

1. New Construction Updates
   1. June Board Meeting– architects working on 4 different plans; will be presented to Board; TdA will discuss first 3; district will discuss 4th option
      1. Updated Master Facilities Plan 
         1. Original Master Plan with updates (increase of costs due to inflation/materials)
      2. K-2 Elementary, Bus Garage, & BOE to Miller (on Craddock Property)
         1. Would be placed where the buses are; current school knocked down; playground area; new bus garage will end up over there. 
         2. Per Elissa Katz, would the building go on the Craddock property? Yes.
      3. Additions to Multiple Buildings
         1. Adding onto Leighton, Miller, & Harmon
      4. Triage List of District Needs
         1. Working our way through the list of repairs that need to be made. (currently, pricing out but so far over 5 million)
   2.  TBD Next Steps
   3. Nothing on the ballot for Fall 2025
2. 5.61 Mill Renewal Operating Levy
   1.  No New Taxes
   2. Generates 3.8 million
   3. Renewed six times (every five years) since first approved in 1990
3. HB 96 (Budget Bill) – The Governor’s budget bill would not have fully funded the Fair School Funding Plan. School funding was ruled unconstitutional in ’97 DeRolf. The FSFP would have constitutionally funded schools. 
   1. 30% Cash Carryover – The House budget has a cap on the amount of carryover for a school. House thinks it’s a savings account, but it’s really a checking account. We are going to take away anything above 30%. 
      1. ACSD is close to the 30%. Per Barb Kudley, can we spend down? Yes.
      2. If the levy passes, we could be over the 30%, and have to give it back, leading to more levies.
      3. Per Elissa Katz, should we send out an all call to contact representatives? Maybe, but hold off until we get our ducks in a row. 
   2. Levy Trends 2025 - https://docs.google.com/document/d/191guc1enBFN1Eo0QR5Jdi7lRmJjxALEzoKPirhMcENc/edit?tab=t.0
   3. Three-year forecast vs. Five-year forecast – under the House budget bill, they realized that if the 30% cap is implemented, then many districts couldn’t certify the 5-year forecast so they said it only has to be a 3-year forecast. 
   4. Property Tax Reform Rationale – In Roberto’s opinion, property tax needs to happen. Homestead exemption needs to be increased. But, these are all symptoms. Twenty different bills to “fix” this issue. You are treating the fever, but not addressing the illness. Schools get 75% of money from property taxes. 
   5. Property Tax Shift – League of Women Voters Northern Portage County slide. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TcCCAuF7SdcKYaogWnvh84qzkYu9BcUZEv1zaq1tm2c/edit?tab=t.0. Over the years, schools have become more reliant on local property taxes because reduction in state funding.
   6. Senate will meet in June to put forth their budget. 
4. New High School Principal – After careful consideration of candidates’ performance within the three rounds of the AHS principal interview-process including thorough reference-checks, formal presentations with the district admin-team, written responses along with any supplemental materials provided as well analysis of student, staff and stakeholder-feedback, Mrs. Ashley Pacholewski has been recommended to the ACSD Board of Education to be the next principal of Aurora High School (pending BOE approval on April 28th).
5. Per Barb Kudley, how are other state funding schools? Ohio is the only one in the country that has HB920. It’s most restrictive that when inflation goes up, the effective mils goes down. Michigan used to do that. Some states fund through income taxes. 
6. Per Gary Brookhart, it sounds like the Governor tried to right the ship with the constitutional mandate; do we have an educational friendly governor? Per Mike Roberto, Governor presents budget; house revises; senate revises; then they all come together; Governor could line-item veto. 
7. Per Derek Hickman, would you describe the Governor as an education-friendly Governor? Per Mike Roberto, he’s a reading-friendly Governor. There is a super majority in the Ohio Congress so can override.
8. Review of the 2024-2025 Topics

• September 26, 2024 -  Overview (Purpose)/Strategic Vision/7.5 Mill Bond Issue
• October 24, 2024 - Levy Update/Filters/AI and Cell Phone Policy Updates
• December 5, 2024 - CANCELED DUE TO SNOW
• (Nov-Dec Meeting Thanksgiving Thursday Before)
• January 23, 2025 -  Bond Issue Updates/Legislation Updates/Vouchers 
• February 27, 2025 -   K-12 Scheduling Process w/Paul Milcetich, Curriculum Director
• March 20, 2025 -   Financial Updates w/Treasurer Bill Volosin (3rd Thursday due to Spring Break 3/27) 
• April 24, 2025 -    Feedback on the School Year/Advisory Council Changes for 2025-2026? Meet monthly – easier to take back to the stakeholders; too much information to cover if only quarterly meetings. 

Which topics should we revisit? Per Brad Duguay, curriculum at the federal level and how it impacts us. Per Elissa Katz, having the principals discuss goals/strategy. New Treasurer, Bryan Schiraldi. Updates from legislature. Vouchers. Per Lisa VanRaepenbusch, I’d like to see the public have a better understanding of special education in the district and how it’s evolved over time. Per Elissa Katz, school counselors and the supports that they provide. Per Lisa VanPaepenbusch, student supports in general. Per Sarah Gallo, safety resource officers and safety plans. Per Audrey Winkler, I’d love to learn more about the Nutrition Group and service facilities (maintenance of the buildings). Per Rachel Reight, programs like the Harmon program offering seniors in the community the opportunity to learn how to use their tech. Per student, how the school has to go through a process to get a levy on the ballot.

Which topics should we avoid?

What other suggestions do you have for 2025-2026?

9. Questions/Comments  
10. Adjournment

Next Meeting:  
-This is our last meeting, and everyone is “free” from their one year of service on this committee going forward.  Next year,  Paul will reach out to each of the groups for a liaison, and you are welcome and encouraged to volunteer next year to serve on this committee, but I didn’t want you to feel like it was a lifetime commitment. THANK YOU!

Levy Trends Presentation