Board of Education Presentations

 

 

Deborah Neyer, Executive Director of the Fairfield Prevention Coalition presented the 2020 Student Drug Use Survey results to board members at the May 21 meeting. The results show progress in the group's efforts to reduce drug, alcohol and tobacco use among teens in the district. To review the results and to learn more about the work the coalition does with FCSD students, click the headline above, or scroll down to the file list at the bottom of this page. 

 

Ohio Department of Education's purposes/objectives for the five-year forecast are:
1. To engage the local board of education and the community in the long range planning and discussions of financial issues facing the school district.
2. To serve as a basis for determining the school district's ability to sign the certificate required by O.R.C. §5705.412, commonly known as the "412 certificate."
3. To provide a method for the Department of Education and Auditor of State to identify school districts with potential financial problems.
Forecast Methodology - This forecast is prepared based upon historical trends and current factors. This information is then extrapolated into estimates for subsequent years. The forecast variables can change multiple times throughout the fiscal year and while cash flow monitoring helps to identify unexpected variances no process is guaranteed. The intent is to provide the district's financial trend over time and a roadmap for decisions aimed at encouraging financial sustainability and stability.
Summary - The new biennial budget was implemented in July 2019 with no increase in state funding for the District.The Legislature did approve Student Wellness and Success funds to help school districts address the needs of the whole child. Fairfield is expected to receive $683,000 in fiscal year 2020 and an additional $960,000 in fiscal year 2021. This funding is not included in the forecast based on guidance from the Auditor of State's Office and the Ohio Department of Education.The District is also expected to receive $1.15 million in CARES Act funding due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This revenue is not included in the forecast, but reduction in expenditures is included for FY21 & FY22.The District did receive a reduction in state funding in May 2020 due to the pandemic. Total reduction for FY20 is $1.6 million. Future state revenue reductions are expected for FY21, but yet to be announced.Spending is expected to outpace revenues beginning in fiscal year 2020. Building and Department budgets have been frozen for the remainder of FY20 and cash reserves will be used to help offset the deficit spending.

To view the full report, click the headline above, or scroll down to the list of files at the bottom of this page.

 

 

 

 

We are looking at the full scope of the needs of students so that they are better prepared for success. Click the headline above to view the presentation. 

 

At the December 12 board of education meeting, the Equity Leadership Team (ELT) presented the annual progress report of the ongoing work with the district Diversity Plan. Highlights from the report include growth in all areas of diversity, both in the student and staff population. Recruitment and hiring of certified staff members of color has increased from 3.23% or 20 in 2011, to 6.86% or 45 in 2019. We have almost doubled our classified staff members of color since 2016 when we first began tracking these hiring numbers. In 2016 we had 20 or 4.8% staff members of color on the classified roster. That number has jumped to 37, or 8% in 2019. The committee also shared information about the ways in which we serve our growing ELL population, which is now at 1,120 students or about 11%, and the services available to students in our district with special needs - making up about 15% of the student population.  Additionally, ELT student members Jabari Ashford, Kennedy Baker, and Madyson Walker shared their perspective on the importance of students of color being engaged in academics and extracurricular activities, and the need for their peers, teachers and other staff to be culturally aware. View the presentation by clicking the headline above, or scrolling to the bottom of this page and selecting it from the file list. 

 

The expansion of the EdChoice Scholarship Program will have a devastating impact on public school systems across the state, including the Fairfield City School District, which stands to lose an estimated $3.4 million next school year - and as much as $14.5 million between fiscal years 2021 and 2024 - if students accept scholarships to attend private schools.

Across the state, an increase in the number of schools designated as "underperforming" is the result of the end of what was known as "Safe Harbor." This was the state's agreement to refrain from using state test results from certain school years to add new public schools to Ohio's EdChoice school list.

District designated schools for the 2020-2021 school year are all elementary schools except South, Creekside Middle School, and Fairfield High School. Designated schools met one (1) of six (6) conditions: Performance; Graduation; Lowest 10% on Performance Index; Literacy; District Performance; and Academic Distress. Fairfield's elementary schools (except South) are designated under the literacy condition. Creekside and the high school are designated under the performance condition.

With these designations, students enrolled in the schools listed above are eligible to apply for scholarships to attend private schools. If approved students in grades K-8 can receive $4,650, and students in grades 9-12 can receive $6,000. They must first be accepted into the private school before being considered for the scholarship. 

For every student who accepts a scholarship, the state will reduce the amount of funding the home district receives to account for the number of scholarships awarded. 

Treasurer Nancy Lane said it is difficult to estimate the number of students who will apply for the EdChoice Scholarship Program.  She is basing her estimates on the number of students in grades K-10 the district currently transports to private schools. 

Superintendent Billy Smith called the expansion of the EdChoice Scholarship Program "the beginning of the end for public education if something doesn't change." The expansion occurred with no public discussion or input from school leaders. "I truly believe that public education as we know it is at stake," Mr. Smith said.

Mr. Smith emphasized that the concern expressed by public school leaders is not an attack against private schools. He wants parents to be informed about the impact this change will have on the district. 

The district will be releasing information about the impact of the expansion and will encourage parents and the community to contact state legislators. To view the complete presentation, please click the headline above, or select the pdf listed at the bottom of this page. 

 

FCSD Treasurer Nancy Lane presented the Five Year Forecast at the November 21 Board of Education meeting. The Forecast includes projections of revenues, expenditures, and financial summary of our standing for the next five years (2020-2024). View the forecast by clicking the headline above or downloading the file at the bottom of the page. The presentation is also listed  at the bottom of this page or you can click here: https://tinyurl.com/FiveYearForecast1119

 

Members of the Future Ready Tech Committee presented a plan to the Board of Education November 7 outlining a move to 1:1 technology for all students in grades K-12.

Dan Jeffers, Coordinator of Data and Instruction; Jeff McKinney, Technology Coordinator; Ricardo Calles, Spanish teacher at Fairfield High School; and Jen Mott, Assistant Principal at Fairfield High School represented the committee at the meeting. The plan will expand collaboration opportunities, encourage critical thinking, engage student creativity and improve communication. The program will be rolled out in phases, beginning with grades 9-12 at the start of the 2020-2021 school year. The following year will include grades 6-8, followed by grades 3-5 in 2022-2023, and K-2 in 2023-2024. Students in grades 9-12 will have complete responsibility for the devices; while sixth-through-eighth graders will have the option to bring the device home or leave at school. Devices will be assigned to students in grades 3-5 but left in homeroom in a cart each day. K-2 devices will be assigned to a core classroom teacher for student use. 

To learn more about this exciting new plan, please click the link above to view the PowerPoint presented to board members. 

 

Treasurer Nancy Lane presented a school funding update at the October 3 Board of Education meeting. The information shared focused on Student Wellness Aid, its uses and the amounts we will receive from the state in fiscal tears 2020 and 2021. The aid can be used in coordination with the Butler County Educational Service Center on current and new initiatives such as mental health services, services for homeless youth, community liaisons, physical health care services, mentoring programs, student services provided before or after the school day, and professional development for trauma-informed care and cultural competence. Click the headline link above to learn more.

 

The FCSD will conduct a community survey beginning October 11 through the 18th. According to Gina Gentry-Fletcher, School and Community Relations Director, the survey will be electronic, with paper copies available to individuals with restricted access to technology.

A link to the 37-question survey was announced on the district website (www.fairfieldcityschools.com), on social media (Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram), in parent email announcements, and an article in the Journal News. To learn more please click the headline above. 

 

Mandy Aug, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, shared data from the 2019 state report card at the October 3 work session. We have made some gains in a few areas, but have identified ways to improve in others through a number of programs and supports. We can celebrate growth in areas such as the "B" received on the Progress component, which looks closely at the growth that all students are making based on their past performance. Our value-added grade overall was a "C," which indicates a year's growth. In the same component, our Gifted students earned an "A," our lowest 20% in achievement earned an "A," and students with disabilities earned a "C" - up from a grade of "F" the previous year! Learn more about how we fared by clicking the headline above.          

The Fairfield Board of Education approved a request September 5 from school district leaders to purchase 32 acres in Fairfield Township for future use. 

The approval followed a presentation by Superintendent Billy Smith and Treasurer Nancy Lane about the opportunity to buy the land, located at the northwest corner of Hamilton-Mason Road and Gilmore Road, "at a very reasonable price" from the township through its Community Improvement Corporation. "We are very thankful to the Fairfield Township Board of Trustees for giving us this opportunity," Mr. Smith said. "While we will begin the Building Pride 2.0 process this fall, the district has no immediate plans to build new schools," Mr. Smith told board members at the meeting. "The Building 2.0 process does prepare us for the future. It allows the district to have

a plan in place if and when it decides to consider new buildings, configurations, etc. The district had plans to initiate the Building Pride 2.0 process prior to discussions about this property."

Building Pride 2.0 is an update on the current facility plan. The initial phase includes assessing current facilities this school year to determine needs and costs. The next phase will include reviewing the assessments and the correlation with the current facility maintenance plan. The property will cost the district $40,000 per acre for a total of $1.28 million.  Funding will come from the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) required .50-mill permanent improvement/maintenance levy approved by voters in 2014 with the bond issue. Mrs. Lane said a portion of the levy is required to be set aside to maintain our newest schools - Freshman, Central, and Compass. "The other portion may be used for purchases that will last at least five (5) years (including land)," she said.  Board members agreed that the township and CIC provided a fair price to the district and that having the land eliminates a need to purchase in the future should there be a need to build. 

Mr. Smith said the Building Pride 2.0 process will consider a number of factors, including building space and programming. Community input will also be a component. "We are going to remain committed to the Building Pride 2.0 process and see where it takes us," Smith said.

View the presentation by clicking on the headline above.

 

A proposal to expand current alternative learning opportunities will include sixth (6th)-through-eighth (8th) graders in space to be created at the Fairfield Academy. The plan was presented by Mandy Aug, Director of Curriculum and Instruction; Kyle Jamison, Director of the Academy; and Joseph Penney, Director of Business Operations. 

Under the proposal, the Academy administration would work closely with Crossroads and Creekside middle schools to identify students who might benefit from the non-traditional learning environment at the Academy. The full-day program would have a total of 30 students - 15 seats available to each school. Transportation would be provided, and students would have support from three teachers and the current administration and office staff at the Academy. At no time would the middle school participants be in the same learning areas with high school students.  Students would also have direct access to the Academy's current community resources and mental health supports. For more information, please view the presentation by clicking the headline above. It is also listed at the bottom of this page for download.