The London City School District held its 2023 organizational meeting on Tuesday, January 10th. The organizational meeting is held prior to the 15th of January of each year and reestablishes many of the procedures in which the Board will operate. During the meeting, the Board reelected Mr. Cooper and Mr. Geib, as its President and Vice President for the year. The Board also appointed Mrs. Wendler (Delegate) and Mrs. Reay (Alternate) as representatives to the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Annual Conference. Reay was also appointed as the district’s legislative liaison to OSBA. The Board established meeting dates for the year and made several other procedural declarations and committee appointments.
The Board of Education held its regular January meeting immediately after the conclusion of its organizational meeting. During her Treasurer’s Report, Ms. Blind informed the Board that the district’s budget continues to track closely to what was forecast. The Board also approved several routine business items including changes to several appropriations and the acceptance, with appreciation, of several donations.
During his Superintendent Report, Dr. Kramer updated the Board on the following district priorities:
Raising student achievement - The district is currently planning a parent and community awareness campaign in an effort the increase student attendance. Last year, 28% of London City School District students missed a minimum of 18 days of school. The campaign will focus on raising awareness of the importance of regular school attendance and the requirements for parents for submitting documentation when students do miss school. A two-hour early release is scheduled for Thursday, January 26th to support teacher professional development.
Improving safety and security - A district team including teachers, counselors, and administrators attended a full-day threat assessment training on Wednesday, January 4th. The team plans to integrate the training and documentation tools into the district’s safety plan in order to strengthen current practices. Officer Langham began his duties as the district’s first School Resource Officer on Monday, January 9th, 2023.
Planning for Growth - The Facilities and Finance Committee met in advance of the Board of Education meeting to review the final budget projects for the district’s field project. The numbers will be shared with the entire BOE well in advance of a February recommendation.
In addition, Dr. Kramer shared the District’s 2023-2024 Academic Calendar as an informational item, which was approved last year. He informed the Board the calendar will be reviewed and work on the 2024-2025 calendar will take place this spring.
During the superintendent’s business recommendations, the Board approved a reappointment to the London Library Board of Trustees. Due to a strange peculiarity in Ohio law, since Library Boards do not have taxing authority, the responsibility to appoint members to the Library Board of Trustees is allocated by law to the local school district. In addition, the district approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the London Education Association in order to adjust compensation for teachers covering other classes due to teacher absence. In addition, the Board approved several routine personnel items including raising the classified substitute rate of pay to $16 per hour. The Board gave oral committee reports before conducting a short executive session to discuss the employment of a district employee.
The next meeting of the Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, February 10th, 2023. The meeting will be held in the College and Career Readiness Center of London High School and begin at 6:30 pm. The minutes of each meeting are approved the following month and then posted here.