Aurora City School District Board of Education
Feb. 24, 2025
Attendance
Pam Mehallis, board president
Stephen Sabulsky, board vice president
Michael Acomb, board member
Jennifer Klich, board member
Molly Schneider, board member
Bill Volosin, treasurer
Paul Milcetich, assistant superintendent curriculum & instruction
Mike Roberto, superintendent
Documenter’s Notes
The Board of Education meeting was called to order at 7 p.m., and the meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by roll call with all board members present.
Public Comments
No public comments made.
Approval of Minutes
Minutes were unanimously approved.
Superintendent/Assistant Superintendent Reports
Aurora High School Rotary students of the month were introduced, and their achievements outlined by Mike Hayes and Victor Torres.
The criteria to be named a Rotary Student of the Month includes academic standing, extracurricular activities, community involvement and leadership with service to others.
Deepti Panguluri and Dallas Kohl, both seniors at Aurora High, were named recipients of the Rotary Student of the Month award. Panguluri’s goal is to become a pediatrician, and Kohl’s goal is to major in political science and eventually to hold political office.
Treasurer’s Report Recommendations
Bill Volosin stressed the importance of engaging the community, especially those without children in the school system. Seventy percent of the tax base comes from taxpayers that have no children in the school district.
In May, there will be a 5.6-mill renewal operating levy on the ballot to fund current expenses. This levy will not result in any new taxes for the community, but it makes it imperative to engage the community, rebuild trust, emphasize transparency with data and give the community an understanding of the needs of the school.
- Exhibit D-1 Resolution to approve financial statements and reports – approved
- Exhibit D-2 Resolution accepting the amount and rates as determined by the budget commission authorizing the necessary tax levies and certifying them to the county auditor – approved
Growth, Performance and Achievement 2024-2025 Goals
Paul Milcetich reviewed audit results for the first semester for the Live Learn and Read project. There’s an emphasis on empathy, thinking and collaboration.
Jen Miller reviewed The Science of Reading (SOR) Era K-5 initiative. House Bill 33 required the purchase of curriculum to build a structural literacy component into school curriculums.
SOR has five pillars of reading that are the key concepts that should be at the core of every effective reading instruction program, including phonic awareness, phonics fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
The SOR curriculum required professional development training for teachers. A pilot has been ongoing using the new curriculum with a full rollout next year. The Aurora school district already had been using a phonics-based reading curriculum. With a phonics-based reading program already in place, this allowed the Aurora schools to adapt the purchased curriculum to fit its strategic vision.
New Business
- Exhibit E1a Resolution to accept gifts and contributions
- Exhibit E1b Resolution to approve staff resignations and or recommendations
- Exhibit E1b1 Resolution to accept staff resignations
- Exhibit E1b2 Resolution to approve support staff substitute
- Exhibit E1b3 Resolution to award supplemental contracts to district personnel 2024-2025
- Exhibit E1b4 Resolution to approve introductory appointment of support staff
- Exhibit E1b5 Resolution to approve long term substitute contracts
- Exhibit E1b6 Resolution to employ support staff
- Exhibit E1b7 Resolution to award new administrative contract
- Exhibit E1b8 Resolution to approve reclassification of licensed staff
- Exhibit E1b9 Resolution to approve administrative contracts eligible for renewal
- Exhibit E1b10 Resolution to approve licensed substitute teachers 2024-2025
- Exhibit E1b11 Resolution to award non district supplemental contract for 2024-2025
- Exhibit E1b12 Resolution to award non district supplemental/pupil contracts
- Exhibit E1b13 Resolution to employ part time support staff
- Exhibit E1b14 Resolution to approve job description for transportation director position and pay scale
- Exhibit E1c Resolution to approve emergency cancellation of school
- Exhibit E1bd Resolution to authorize membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association
All resolutions approved.
Discussion item: Board community communication
It was proposed to form a committee to explore ways to encourage and strengthen community engagement with the school district. Discussion took place and it was decided to move forward in forming a committee.
Meeting adjourned so board members could hold an executive session to discuss the employment of a public employee.
