BATH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING	January 7, 2020

The Bath Board of Education met for an organizational meeting January 7, 2020 at 5:00 P.M. in the boardroom.

Treasurer, Annette Morman administered the following oath of office to Michael Armentrout, Robert Foley, and Jacqueline Place, for terms commencing January 1, 2020.

Do you solemnly swear and affirm that you will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Ohio; and that you will faithfully and impartially discharge your duties as a board member in and for the Bath Local School District, Allen County, Ohio to the best of your ability, and in accordance with the laws now in effect, and hereafter enacted, during your continuance in said office and until your successor is chosen and qualified?

I do, _______________________________________

I do, _______________________________________

I do, _______________________________________

The roll call was given and the following members were present: Mr. Armentrout, Mr. Birkemeier, Mr. Foley, Mrs. Place and Mr. Spragg.

Mr. Birkemeier nominated Mrs. Place for President of the Board of Education for 2020.

20-1-1	CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS FOR PRESIDENT: Mr. Foley moved and Mr. Birkemeier seconded the motion to close the nominations for President of the Board. Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Foley, yes; Mr. Birkemeier, yes; Mr. Spragg, yes, Mr. Armentrout, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; motion carried.

20-1-2	MOTION TO ELECT PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD: Mr. Spragg moved and Mr. Foley seconded the motion to elect Mrs. Place as President of the Board for 2020. Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Spragg, yes; Mr. Foley, yes; Mr. Birkemeier, yes; Mrs. Place, abstain; Mr. Armentrout, yes; motion carried.

Treasurer Annette Morman administered the Oath of Office as President to Mrs. Place:

Do you solemnly swear and affirm that you will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Ohio; and you will faithfully and impartially discharge your duties as President in and for the Bath Local School District, Allen County, Ohio to the best of your ability, and in accordance with the laws now in effect, and hereafter enacted during your continuance in said office and until your successor is chosen and qualified?

I do,___________________________________

Mr. Birkemeier nominated Mr. Spragg for Vice President of the Board of Education for 2020.

20-1-3	CLOSE THE NOMINATIONS FOR VICE PRESIDENT: Mr. Foley moved and Mr. Birkemeier seconded the motion to close the nominations for Vice President of the Board. Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Foley, yes; Mr. Birkemeier, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; Mr. Armentrout, yes; Mr. Spragg, yes; motion carried.

BATH BOARD OF EDUCATION	January 7, 2020

20-1-4	ELECT VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD: Mr. Armentrout moved and Mr. Foley seconded the motion to elect Mr. Spragg as Vice President of the Board. Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Armentrout, yes; Mr. Foley, yes; Mr. Spragg, abstain; Mrs. Birkemeier, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; motion carried.

Treasurer Annette Morman administered the Oath of Office as Vice President to Mr. Spragg:

Do you solemnly swear and affirm that you will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Ohio; and you will faithfully and impartially discharge your duties as Vice President in and for the Bath Local School District, Allen County, Ohio to the best of your ability, and in accordance with the laws now in effect, and hereafter enacted during your continuance in said office and until your successor is chosen and qualified?

I do,___________________________________

Board President Committees for 2020 are as follows: Athletic – Robert Birkemeier and Robert Foley Buildings & Grounds – Robert Foley and Van Spragg Finance – Van Spragg and Michael Armentrout Policy – Michael Armentrout and Jacqueline Place

Student Achievement Liaison – Jacqueline Place Legislative Liaison – Robert Birkemeier

20-1-5	DEPOSITORY AGREEMENT: Mr. Foley moved and Mr. Spragg seconded the motion to approve entering into a five-year depository agreement with JP Morgan Chase Bank for the period of February 1, 2020 through January 31, 2025; copy on file. Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Foley, yes; Mr. Spragg, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; Mr. Birkemeier, yes; Mr. Armentrout, yes; motion carried.

20-1-6	ESTABLISH BOARD MEETING DATE AND TIME: Mr. Birkemeier moved and Mr. Spragg seconded the motion to schedule the 2020 board meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 P.M. in the Board Room of the Administration Office with January and April as exceptions. The scheduled dates are:
Tuesday, January 28	Tuesday, July 21 Tuesday, February 18	Tuesday, August 18 Tuesday, March 17	Tuesday, September 15 Tuesday, April 28	Tuesday, October 20 Tuesday, May 19	Tuesday, November 17 Tuesday, June 16	Tuesday, December 15
Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Birkemeier, yes; Mr. Spragg, yes; Mr. Armentrout, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; Mr. Foley, yes; motion carried.

20-1-7	REAPPROVE TREASURER AS RECORDS OFFICER: Mr. Birkemeier moved and Mr. Foley seconded the motion to designate the Treasurer, or in her absence, the person designated by the Superintendent, as the Public Records Officer, for purposes of compliance with public records requests and training requirements of R.C. 109.43 and 149.43. Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Birkemeier, yes; Mr. Foley, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; Mr. Armentrout, yes; Mr. Spragg, yes; motion carried.

BATH BOARD OF EDUCATION	January 7, 2020

20-1-8	RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE STATE OF OHIO EDCHOICE SCHOLARSHIP (VOUCHER) PROGRAM: Mr. Spragg moved and Mr. Birkemeier seconded the motion to approve the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Ohio legislature has recently made amendments which greatly increase the number and availability of vouchers for students to attend private/parochial schools at public tax expense, and

WHEREAS, such vouchers will be available to numerous families and students who have never attended Bath or any other public schools and for whom state funding has never been provided to Bath or any other public schools, and

WHEREAS, Bath’s state funding will be unjustly decreased by the amount of the vouchers provided to such families and students who have not and will not attend public schools and others who transfer to private/parochial schools, and

WHEREAS, private/parochial schools accepting students with public tax vouchers would not be required to accept all students but would be permitted to retain their selective admission policies without enforcement of other laws applicable to public schools, and

WHEREAS, private/parochial school students are not subject to the testing standards required of public school students so that the actual performance of private/parochial schools subsidized with public tax dollars will not be known, relative to equivalent public school evaluation standards, and

WHEREAS, this Board believes that the EdChoice voucher program as it currently exists presents serious constitutional issues regarding the separation of church and state and the funding of religious institutions with public tax dollars, and

WHEREAS, the State of Ohio has the constitutional responsibility to secure a thorough and efficient system of commons schools, and

WHEREAS, the EdChoice voucher program will have exactly the opposite effect by providing funding to private/parochial schools at the expense and to the detriment of public schools and their students.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by this Bath Local School District Board of Education that this Board reaffirms its commitment to free accessible public schools which are adequately and equitably funded to guarantee a comparable education for ALL children and therefore opposes and respectfully requests the repeal of the ill-conceived EdChoice voucher program of the State of Ohio.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Board opposes any funding programs, vouchers or otherwise, that have the effect of diverting public tax dollars from public schools to private/parochial schools.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Treasurer is hereby authorized and directed to forward copies of this Resolution to all Ohio state legislators, the Superintendent of Public Instruction and Governor of the State of Ohio.

Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Spragg, yes; Mr. Birkemeier, yes; Mr. Foley, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; Mr. Armentrout, yes; motion carried.

BATH BOARD OF EDUCATION	January 7, 2020

20-1-9	EXECUTIVE SESSION: Mr. Armentrout moved and Mr. Foley seconded the motion to go into executive session for matters required to be kept confidential by state or federal law. Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Armentrout, yes; Mr. Foley, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; Mr. Spragg, yes; Mr. Birkemeier, yes, motion carried.

The Board went into executive session at 5:12 P.M. and returned at 5:55 P.M.

20-1-10	ADJOURNMENT: Mr. Foley moved and Mr. Birkemeier seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. Vote on the motion was as follows: Mr. Foley, yes; Mr. Birkemeier, yes; Mrs. Place, yes; Mr. Armentrout, yes; Mr. Spragg, yes; motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 5:56 P.M.

____________________________________ PRESIDENT

____________________________________ TREASURER