BASA AdminiScope, August 2020

Summer 2020

A Different Kind of New School Year By Dr. R. Kirk Hamilton

Another school year begins bringing with it a fresh start, new goals, as well as renewed energy and enthusiasm. Everyone is filled with excitement about the challenges and opportunities that the school year will bring. There is always a unique positive feeling at the start of the year. The new year seems to always be filled with hope. The new year also brings with it change. New staff members, new assignments, new students, and new op - portunities. For some of us, it brings new buildings, new instructional materials, or new technology. All of these things afford us new opportunities to make a difference in the lives of our students in these challenging times. That is the message that accompanies a typical new school year and this is certainly not a typical new school year. While the message still applies to this new school year as well, this message takes a back seat to the challenges of opening schools amid a health pandemic. A heartfelt thank you to each of one of you for rising to the challenge and leading your district and community through these unique times. Whether you are a 25-year veteran or a first year superintendent, none of us have experience with the circumstances we find ourselves in today. You have been exemplary in navigating these uncharted waters. As Deb Delisle always said, “Leadership Matters.” This new year also brings a great deal of change and un - certainty. Your positive leadership will be essential as you lead your district through these changes. While we cannot control the outcomes of our political system or public health issues, we can control the message and approach as we communicate and implement these new directives and policies, which have been necessitated by COVID-19. People will look to you and take your lead in reacting to, and implementing, these new policies. We encourage you to continue to be thoughtful in your communication and action as your staff and community will take your lead. Our operations at BASA have also been impacted as you know. We too have entered the world of virtual meet- ings and many of the issues you face, albeit on a smaller scale. One of those impacts has been the need to alter our plans for the Fall Conference. As you may know, we have replaced the in-person conference with a virtual experience. Cynthia Walker has worked very effectively in identifying a user friendly virtual platform that will provide you with a very meaningful conference experience. We will have Tara Westover, author of the book “Educated”, as our keynote speaker on day one. We encourage you to read the book prior to the conference as we will have a unique opportunity to learn from her experiences in a candid conversation. A new BASA president was also installed in August. Dr. Greg Denecker, superintendent of the Bluffton Exempt- ed Village Schools was installed as our President on August 11. Scott Inskeep, superintendent of the Kettering City Schools was installed as the President-Elect. We look forward to working with them and benefiting from their leadership this year. As a BASA staff, we truly understand and appreciate the important and challenging work you do. We are proud of the work you have done and continue to do. We are also proud to be able to support and serve our mem - bership. We wish you a successful and productive 2020-2021 school year.

President’s Message By Greg Denecker

Credit Rating Considerations for School Districts By Marvin Founds, Director, Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors

Welcome back to a new school year! Any - thing been going on in your district this summer, or was it laid-back and boring? OK . . . Don’t answer that!! Obviously, we

Since the Great Recession, many school districts have increased available cash positions due to strong recoveries in property values and taxes, state support and school income taxes. Expenditures were also examined during this time and many beneficial adjustments were made. Policies to identify targeted balances and procedures to head off a future drain on funds have been a focus for many districts since the recession. School districts that have been successful in these efforts are in better position to address the residual effects of COVID-19. School districts in Ohio are generally rated by Moody’s Investors Service (Moody’s), Standard and Poor’s Global Ratings (S&P) and/or Fitch Ratings (Fitch). These rating agencies are evaluating many school districts through annual surveillance procedures with an emphasis on the effects COVID-19 may be having on school district finances and operations. Questions by the rating agencies include what changes, if any, there may be in state funding, local tax collections and tax base, state and fed- eral stimulus programs, local business activity, instructional delivery systems (in-person and remote), cybersecurity, ballot initiatives and related voter outcome and other budgetary considerations that could impact credit ratings. Additionally, Moody’s has proposed a new rating methodology for U.S. K-12 public school districts. The proposed methodology increases the emphasis on residential income, enrollment trends, avail- able fund balances and net cash ratios, and makes changes to long-term liability calculations. Given the expected modifications in methodology, Moody’s estimates that 10% of its rated schools districts nationally could possibly receive rating downgrades, while an equal 10% could receive rating up- grades. The remaining 80% are expected to be unchanged. As school districts work through the current environment, they will have an opportunity to evaluate appropriate levels of targeted available balances, budgetary set-asides and policies affecting their financial position based on the knowledge gained from the economic impact of COVID-19. About Baker Tilly (www.bakertilly.com ) Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors work with communities to help improve operations and resolve financial issues. As a certified public accounting firm, we pair the ethics, structure, quality control and business discipline of a CPA firm with the skills and knowledge of a strategic municipal advisor. We specialize in advising school districts, as well as state and local governments, utilities, libraries and economic development organizations.

are in for probably the most challenging school year of our ca - reers. Our reaction to this time as superintendents will impact our students, staff, parents, and communities. My heart goes out to all of the brand new superintendents, especially those who are new to a particular school district. If you are a veteran administrator, please reach out to these individuals to offer help or to serve as a sounding board. BASA does a great job with the new superintendent program, but our current situation un - derscores the importance of offering and receiving mentorship. With that said, I encourage you to be as positive as possible as you face challenges within your districts and work to navigate the year as a school-wide team. I know this will not be easy. It will take a lot of relationship-building to persevere through this year. Building relationships is the most important element of our roles as district leaders. A strong relationship with board members is critical, not only to the success of the district, but also to your own success and longevity. Keep communication open; take time to listen to concerns, answer questions, and just be available to board members. While you’re not always going to be in agreement, knowing where each person is com - ing from is important. Likewise, be sure to build and nurture relationships with your office staff, administration, certified staff, classified staff, students, parents, and community. Don’t hide in your office. Be visible. Be accessible. At all times, but especially in times of crisis, the positive relationships that you have built will result in a greater likelihood that your school community will trust in your leadership. For those of you that have already begun the school year (in whatever format), I hope your year is off to a great start! For everyone gearing up to open, I wish you the very best. As the school year progresses, please do not hesitate to reach out to other superintendents for advice and discussion. COVID has challenged us to think differently as educators and as admin - istrators. My goal is for all of us to find appropriate timely re- sponses and to even excel in finding new ways to teach, learn, and meet the needs of all students. We are in this together. One mantra that always stuck with me from the new superintendent program through BASA was that nobody can really relate to what you are going through except for other fellow superintendents. Help one another as much as possible during these challenging times. Best of luck for a great 2020-2021 school year!!

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OSEP Explains IDEA Procedural Safeguards During the COVID-19 Pandemic By: Carolyn A. Davis, Esq. & Shawna M. Sorrell, Esq. The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) recently responded to inquiries about the implication of pro - cedural safeguards in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the current COVID-19 environ - ment. IDEA demands specific procedural safeguards for agency activities, but agencies may accept electronic signatures and provide electronic notice with appropriate safeguards. Parental Consent Public agencies need parental consent for evaluations and related services for children, and to disclose per- sonal identifiable information (PII) from the child’s education records. Additionally, State Lead Agency (State LA) and Early Intervention Service (EIS) providers need parental consent for screening purposes or to dis- close PII. An agency may accept electronic or digital signatures provided it adopts the appropriate safeguards. Proper safeguards include that the electronic signature (1) is signed and dated, (2) identifies and authenticates a particular person as the source of the electronic consent, (3) indicates such person’s approval of the informa - tion contained in the electronic consent, and (4) is accompanied by a statement that the person understands and agrees. Prior Written Notice & Procedure and Safeguards to Notice

EF Educational Tours It’s been just about 6 months since the U.S. Department of State raised the Global Health Advisory to level 4, advising against international travel. While that has been recently lifted, unfortunately the world is not yet back to normal. As everyone readies for the new school year – reacting to constantly updated guidance from state and local authorities and balancing it with feedback from your communities and the families you serve – we have heard one consistent theme: we all need something to look forward to. Communities sacrificed so much these last few months, socially, financially and professionally – from rites of passage for our students like proms, sports, plays and graduation, to our own human need to interact – with friends, family, colleagues and strangers. As a parent, I can say with a full heart that I desperately want to give my kids something they can look forward to – in fact, I need it just as much as they do. As I read the headlines locally and around the country daily, one thing continues to resonate for me – the need to truly understand each other and to expand our own perspectives. We live in a global economy and are preparing students with that mindset to help them build successful careers – to understand themselves, the world and their place in the world. And that is more valuable and more important now than ever before. Since March, I’ve stayed in constant touch with colleagues and EF teams around the world. I’m feeling cautiously optimistic about travel in some regions happening in 2021 and I am very confident in 2022. How- ever, there is still uncertainty and many questions I’m sure you all have about safety that will impact your community's decision about travel. I want you to know that we are here to support you through the deci- sion-making process and to answer those questions and help you make informed decisions. I’m proud of the hundreds of EF operations staff located in our offices around the world who have been working diligently to understand and adjust to what future travel will look like; helping us all prepare to get back to exploring the world together. So whenever you’re ready to travel, I can promise we will be ready for you, with the safety of our travelers continuing to be our first priority, as it has been for the last 55 years. I also want to reassure you about EF’s strength as a business, as we all see travel and other industries struggling. The way EF is managing through this pandemic today is no different than the way we have suc - cessfully navigated countless other world events – by prioritizing our customers and making sure we focus on the long-term health of the business. EF is family owned and has been thoughtfully managed for more than five decades. We also have a wide portfolio of educational products around the world, which gives us a strong foundation and means we are built for a strong future to continue our mission of giving confidence and freedom to people of all ages, nationalities and backgrounds. Well over 70% of groups that were scheduled to travel in 2020 have rescheduled for a future tour. And we intend to be here so that when we can travel safely, those students - as well as the tens of thousands of others with the same dream - can take advantage of the transformative experience of travel with EF. This is my commitment to you: all of EF is here to support you and your communities as we return to dream- ing about all the places we’ll go together and giving students something to look forward to again. Should you want to talk further about the safety precautions or your districts planning for the future of travel, I encourage you to reach out to me directly at Kate@ef.com. Sincerely, Kate Berseth President, EF Educational Tours Kate@ef.com

If a parent has previously agreed or agrees during the pandemic, public agen - cies and the State LA or EIS providers can use email rather than hard copy mail to deliver prior written notice and procedural safeguards within a reason - able time before taking certain actions. Access to Records

In light of social restrictions, for agencies and providers to comply with requests to inspect and review records, the parties may identify a mutually agreeable timeframe and reasonable method for providing access to the records. Possible methods include email, a secure online portal, and postal mail.

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territory to another adjacent school district. Only 10% of the electors in the defined transfer area need to sign a petition to require the proposal to be placed on the ballot at the next election after the board of elections certifies the proposal. The district set to “lose” territory is required to fund the election. To this date, four districts have been impacted by this incredibly flawed legislation. Most recently, Bowling Green City Schools had eight issues appear on the August 4 ballot. If all eight issues would have been ap- proved, BG was set to lose $150 million of tax valuation and 200 students. As it stood, four issues failed and four issues were approved. Without any say in the matter whatsoever, Bowling Green Schools and its citizens lost territory to neighboring school districts due to approval votes of 48-20, 32-17, 1-0, and 1-0. To this date, no legislator has claimed responsibility for inserting this legislation into the budget bill without properly vetting the implications of this new law. BASA has worked to have language inserted into various pieces of legislation to sunset this law immediately with the passage of emergency legislation; however, at this point, legislators have not responded. We will continue to work with legislators so that they understand the importance of repealing a piece of legislation that gives too much power to small groups of citizens at the expense of Ohio’s schools. And the third issue that may come back to the forefront is the Cupp-Patterson school funding bill—House Bill 305. Unfortunately, the EdChoice discussion and pandemic compromised to put the Cupp-Patterson bill on the backburner and slow the momentum of the fair school funding discussion. However, with Representative Cupp assuming his duties as the new Speaker of the House, reviving the discussion surrounding HB 305 is sure to be a focus under his leadership. One thing is for sure—the last half of 2020 is sure to be as interesting, and challenging, as the first half. As always, the voice and involvement of our BASA members, will be vital as we tackle these issues and many more that have the power to help, or hinder, our goal to provide quality instruction and meaningful opportuni - ties for the students of Ohio.

Big Ticket Items to Be Addressed as Legislators Return in September by Kevin Miller

To say that it’s going to be an interesting fall would be an understatement—not only for you as school lead - ers, but also for Ohio’s legislators. House and Senate members will be returning for a lame duck session that will have them addressing some crucial pieces of legislation that will have serious impacts on Ohio’s school districts. And of course, all of this will be taking place under the specter of the arrest and conviction of former House Speaker Larry Householder for racketeering. Though he has been removed by his colleagues as Speaker of the House, interestingly, Representative House - holder remains on the November ballot for re-election. And because he is running unopposed, the chances that he remains a state legislator are fairly high. The only way that he can be removed from his position as a House member at this time is if he voluntarily withdraws from the election, which doesn’t seem probable, or he is ultimately impeached by either the House or the Senate. Political corruption aside, there will be major issues that will be BASA’s focus in working with legislators as they reconvene after Labor Day. One important piece is HB 606, which would provide additional liability for school districts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. You already have extensive liability through ORC 2744.02 and 2744.03, but what HB 606 provides is additional protection which specifically notes that there is “no cause for action” if a student, staff member, or visitor contracts the virus. Basically, this means that no one could come back on your district and claim that he or she contracted the virus because of exposure to the virus in one of your buildings. HB 606 passed the House the end of May and was approved by the Senate on June 30. However, the Senate made changes with which the House will have to concur. In addition, in its present state, HB 606 is only effective until December 31 of this year, so additional changes will need to be made to make this bill the kind of legislation that provides the added coverage for Ohio’s schools. Three non-COVID-related issues will continue to demand the attention of our members if we have a chance of effecting positive change for the school districts we serve. The first is Ohio’s EdChoice Voucher program. This past spring, HB 197 “froze” the current eligibility list, keep - ing the list of eligible school buildings at 517 instead of growing to the 1,227 which were scheduled to become eligible this past February 1. HB 197 also specified a sixty-day enrollment period which began April 1 and ran through the end of May. However, the Ohio Department of Education determined that the legislation did not specifically eliminate the “rolling” application period, so on July 1, the application period opened back up. Fam - ilies in those 517 districts can continue to apply for vouchers with funding being on a pro-rated basis. There are also loop holes in the “freeze” which allow siblings of previously eligible students to apply for vouchers, whether their building is currently eligible or not. If EdChoice legislation is not addressed, the current freeze will expire and those 1,200-plus school buildings will once again become EdChoice eligible schools on February 1, 2021. Millions of dollars will continue to be fun - neled away from public education and to private and parochial schools with little to no accountability required of those schools. With EdChoice advocate Senator Matt Huffman seemingly being the heir-apparent to the Senate President position in 2021, the uphill climb to defeat performance-based vouchers will become steeper. Your continued involvement in the EdChoice discussion, whether you have an EdChoice-eligible building or not, is critical to upholding Ohio’s system of public education. A second major issue to be addressed is the repeal of the Territory Transfer legislation which was literally “snuck” into last year’s HB 166—the budget bill—to the detriment of Ohio’s schools. Remember that this new law allows electors living in a township that is split between two or more districts to petition for the transfer of

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Masks and requests for exemption

Five Things Your People Need from You Right Now While savvy managers understand how to motivate and unite teams outside of a national disaster, leading during turbulent times presents new and unchartered challenges. Because everything rises and falls on leadership, what must leaders do to keep people engaged and motivated during this pandemic? Joel McKenzie, a veteran American Fidelity manager, shares the top five things people need right now from their leaders. Five Things Your People Need from You Right Now Transparency If your people don’t already know the truth about what’s going on, it is only a matter of time before they will. Be the first to let your people know what is going on. Be transparent, act ethically, and talk openly at all times. Reassurance People need to feel that they are still valuable, the organization is still strong, and things in general are going to be ok. Communicating with employees along these lines can help them remove fears and regain Understanding means to perceive the significance of what people are feeling and show compassion for them. Look beyond what they might be doing to what might be causing them to behave as they are and help them get to a better place. Self-Awareness It’s critical that the leader knows their own personality and character. It’s also critical that they can evaluate and control their actions, thoughts, and emotions, making sure they align with their internal standards. Tactical Support “Tactical” means the details of getting the job done and your people need tactical help right now. They don’t need you to fix the problem, but they do need your help with the nuts and bolts of how to be produc - tive with new tools and new approaches. So, go on, give your people the trust in you and themselves they need! Lisa M. Stevens Account Development 877-518-2337, ext. 2719 Lisa.Steven@AmericanFidelity.com their confidence. Understanding

You may already have seen requests for exemptions from the re - quirement for students and teachers to wear masks. Some districts have created forms to streamline the process of requesting an ex - emption, which also serves to meet the requirement to document the requests and the reason for it. The reasons for requesting an exemption from the requirement to wear a mask include: 1. If a student or staff member has a physical, mental, or developmental condition that prevents him or her from wearing a mask. 2. A religious exemption, which states that as person with an “established sincerely held religious require - ment exists that does not permit a facial covering.” 3. Face masks do not have to be worn while eating and drinking while seated, while actively participating in recess or physical education when 6 feet apart, 4. During lessons when needed (language instruction or while playing an instrument) 5. When students are 6 feet apart and the teacher determines a “mask break” is necessary. 6. When an individual is alone in an office or other enclosed space.

Deciding whether a religious belief is required by the religion and how the First Amendment impacts these decisions are best made on a case by case basis with legal counsel. These decisions also may have other considerations, which make them a good choice to discuss with counsel. The “mask break” language of the order, which states that where students are able to maintain six feet of distance and a mask break is “deemed necessary by the educator supervising the educational setting” deserves some consideration for educational leaders. Pro- vide guidance to teaching staff concerning the use of these breaks and your expectations, including the duration of a “mask break.” Without parameters, some teachers may interpret this language with widely varying outcomes or administer it according to their personal beliefs rather than a uniform district/building approach. Remember, masks are to be worn indoors, including in classrooms. Consider ensuring the “snack and meal time” mask break time is discussed at the district/building level so there is a shared under - standing that wearing masks is the rule and eating and snacking are the exception. These breaks should be limited by set times such as

the student’s lunch times or as their disability requires. Staff members also may make requests for exemption, and districts should consider whether these requests are warranted based on their facts and circumstances. Districts may request medical or supporting documen - tation to consider the basis for the request (for students or staff). A word on face shields: face shields are not adequate substitutes for masks, per an Ohio Department of Health FAQ and CDC guidance. However, they may be used to supplement mask protection and also may be used when one of the exemptions such as communicating with a hearing-impaired person or English language learn- er, or even a religious exemption. Don’t forget your transportation department; students must wear masks while waiting for or riding a school bus.

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THE NEW TITLE IX: IMPORTANT HIGHLIGHTS FOR SUPERINTENDENTS AND ADMINISTRATORS Leighann Fink, Attorney On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education released changes to Title IX regulations, effective August 14, 2020, which are designed to heighten and improve protections for victims of sexual harassment, discrimination and victims of sexual assault. K-12 schools must adopt or amend its policies to: (1) identify a Title IX Coordi - nator; (2) provide training, including training for application of “rape shield” protections to keep a complainant’s sexual history private, and post the district’s Title IX Policy and training materials on the district website, or other - wise make them available to the public; (3) notify all parents/guardians, students and employees about the Title IX Coordinator and how to file a complaint; and (4) adopt specific response and grievance procedures along with an appeal process that may be based upon investigative irregularities, new evidence, and/or a conflict of inter- est or bias. Decision-makers in K-12 schools must allow each party the opportunity to submit written, relevant questions to the other party or any witness, and allow time for answers/limited follow-up questions, prior to a final determination regarding responsibility. When a finding of responsibility is made, remedies must be provided to the complaining party. informal complaint resolution process is permissible, however, informal processing is prohibited when a school employee is alleged to have sexually harassed a student. Schools must also offer “supportive measures” to victims of sexual harassment, during and after an investigation. These include non-disciplinary, non-punitive steps to ensure on-going equal educational access, protect the victim’s safety and/or deter future sexual ha - rassment and discrimination. BIPOLAR IONIZATION: A PROMISING COVID-19 DISRUPTOR by Jacob Faiola, P.E. open-air classrooms created specifically for children infected with tuberculosis (TB). My architecture firm, SHP, was founded in 1901, so it guided clients through TB as well as the Spanish flu in 1918. While I didn’t live through either incident, COVID-19 has more than just a hint of déjà vu at our company. As it turned out, fresh air wasn’t quite the TB killer experts thought it would be—though the benefits of outdoor education for emotional, behavioral and intellectual development are now wide-ranging and well-proven. Thank - fully, science has come a long way since 1911, and one of its many gifts to society is bipolar ionization, which is showing considerable promise for reducing the spread of COVID-19. In the simplest terms, bipolar ionization disrupts a virus’s internal instructions for reproducing. A virus must merge with living cells to grow; ions, which are atoms that are either missing an electron or have one too many, prevent that from happening. When released into the airstream, ions not only disrupt virus reproduction, they also bond with dust and mold particles, making them easier for HVAC filters to trap. In addition, ions help keep cooling coils clean, improving overall efficiencies. Bipolar ion generators are easily added to new or existing HVAC systems. As such, we be - lieve it’s a solution every school should at least consider. To learn more about bipolar ionization and other techniques, such as humidity control and displacement ventila - tion for improving indoor air quality, visit shp.com or email me at jfaiola@shp.com. “Children will be provided with ‘Eskimo suits’ and will study and recite their les - sons in the fresh, life-giving air of winter, fully prepared to withstand the cold.” So read a news article in The Cincinnati Enquirer in 1911. It referred to the Schools must initiate the investigative process when any district em - ployee has notice of harassment and/or allegations of sexual harass - ment. Complaints may be filed by victims of harassment/discrimina - tion and third parties. When a formal complaint is filed, a voluntary

FIVE STRATEGIES TO REPRIORITIZE YOUR HEALTHCARE SPEND FOR 2021 Tammy Olson, Area Senior Vice President — Health & Welfare Consulting Ivette Robinson , Area Vice President — Health & Welfare Consulting As renewal planning for the upcoming year begins for many organizations, the impact of the COVID-19 pan - demic no doubt affects how employers will strategize to update their existing benefit plan designs. First, an article by Gallagher’s Michael Mousseau, Ph.D., “The Unforeseen of Quarantine,” addresses being mindful of unforeseen consequences that may contribute to reduced physical and emotional wellbeing. Balancing that with cost, another article by Gallagher’s Alex Kreibich, ASA, “Estimated Cost Implications of COVID-19 for Self-Funded Employers,” states that many routine doctor visits and elective procedures are being canceled or deferred, resulting in unanticipated cash flow for many employers in the short term, but with unknown implications on long-term costs due to reduced routine and preventive care. These articles set the stage in defining five trends for plan design approaches with lower cost projections in mind. 1. DISEASE MANAGEMENT The impact of quarantine has a very real impact on physical and emotional wellbeing of employees. The idea that stress and the potential slowing of physical activity can play a key role in medical diagnosis is not going unnoticed. Considering the potential for lower renewal dollars in the short term, plan design adjustments to help tackle key diagnosis of high blood pressure, stroke and diabetes are being considered. Options to rein - vest dollars into more robust disease management programs or through partnering with specific vendors that can help curb costs while advocating for better living behaviors for stress-related illnesses are on the rise. 2. VIRTUAL CARE ACCESS In another impact to medical plans in this new reality, more and more individuals are reluctant to physically visit a doctor’s office or hospital for non-COVID-19 concerns. The importance of accessing care remotely has had a large impact on the innovation and technological advancements of seeking care. A primary focus for many organizations is ensuring they have the right level of virtual care available to their employees by either communicating more robustly about the virtual care option currently in their plan or expanding the care op- tion all together if they didn’t previously have one. Gallagher is seeing expansion come from carrier partners and through independent vendors that specialize specifically in this type of access to healthcare. 3. VOLUNTARY BENEFITS Employers are considering new voluntary benefit offerings in light of this new environment. We’ve seen many of our carrier partners and clients remove cost shares for testing and treatment of COVID-19, while some have even adjusted the pre-authorization processes to remove barriers for those needing care. However, costs can be incurred for other expenses, and employers are turning to two options to mitigate the burden of costs: first, a hospital indemnity plan that provides employees direct payments for expenses incurred during a hospital stay. This low-cost, potentially high-impact solution is being considered especially for those with consumer-driven health plans. Second, some critical illness plans are considering COVID-19 an infectious disease, which can help pay a lump sum to those who have been diagnosed. 4. EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

Addressing the mental health of employees during this time is more impor- tant than ever. Employers are turning to their EAP vendors as they seek to communicate and connect employees with resources to better balance the load of work, life and pandemic influences. Again, the theme of enhancing the current offering within an employer’s benefit plan design or seeking to expand an offering through a unique vendor can prove worthwhile if there’s an understanding of the natural demographics of that organization’s work - force.

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5. FAMILY-FRIENDLY SUPPORT Trends toward understanding options for family-friendly benefits are on the rise given the changing landscape from stay-at-home orders and the child care shifts seen across the country. The closing of schools and day care centers places a significant burden on working parents, which is directly impacting employers. As these closings occur, many work pressures remain, having a direct impact on productivity and stress levels. Many employers are seeking to support employees in new and needed ways through vendors that specifically provide child care support resources to assist families during this time. With a flattening of projected renewals in the short run, employers can look to reallocate existing dollars toward to making plan design changes that take holistic care of the physical and emotional wellbeing of employees. Innovation in these five areas is going to shape our new reality and be more important than ever in evaluating the options emerging in the market that can support organizational goals. For more information, contact Cyndie Schepis, Area Executive Vice President - Public Sector & Healthcare Team Lead at 216.702.0906 or Cyndie_Schepis@ajg.com.

Executive Director

Dr. R. Kirk Hamilton Dr. David E. Axner Dr. Kevin Miller Cynthia J. Walker Stephen Osborne

Deputy Executive Director

BASA Calendar & Professional Development Programs

Director of Governmental Relations Director of Member Development

Director of Finance Executive Assistant Executive Assistant

September 2020

Denise Hall

15 BASA Regional Meeting (ONLINE) 18 BASA Regional Meeting (ONLINE) 23 Special Education Conference (ONLINE) 29 New Superintendents Legal Update (ONLINE) October 2020 5-6 BASA Fall Conference (ONLINE)

Vanessa Gabriele Adminiscope is published quarterly by the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. Annual subscriptions are included in membership dues. All rights reserved. How to contact BASA Phone: (614) 846-4080 Web: www.basa-ohio.org Fax: (614) 846-4081 Twitter: @BASA_Supt Email: events@basa-ohio.org

BASA Executive Committee

Superintendent Reminders

President

Region 8

Greg Denecker

Philip Wagner

Bluffton EVS (419) 358-5901 denecker@blufftonschools.org Kettering City Schools (937) 499-1430 scott.inskeep@ketteringschools.org Scott Inskeep Tri-Valley Local Schools (740) 754-1442 mneal@tvschools.org Perrysburg EVS (419) 874-9131 tom@perrysburgschools.net Ottoville Local Schools (419) 453-3357 smangas@ottovilleschools.org Tom Hosler Scott Mangas Columbiana EVS (330) 482-5352 don.mook@columbianaschools.org Fort Frye Local Schools (740) 984-2497 stephanie.starcher@fortfrye.org Trotwood-Madison City Schools (513) 729-0077 reva.cosby@trotwood.k12.oh.us River View Local Schools (740) 824-3521 dalton.summers@rvbears.org Stephanie Starcher Reva Cosby Dalton Summers Mark Neal Michael Mayell Brunswick City Schools (330) 225-7731 mmayell@bcsoh.org Donald Mook

Licking Heights Local Schools (740) 927-6926 pwagner@lhschools.org Oakwood City Schools (937) 297-5332 ramey.kyle@oakwoodschools.org Pioneer Career and Technology Center (419) 347-7744 nickoli.greg@pctc.k12.oh.us Kyle Ramey Greg Nickoli

September 1

President-Elect

Region 9

Deadline for State Board of Education to either approve or disapprove a proposed transfer of territory and notify, in writing, the boards of ed of the districts affected by such proposed transfer of territory of its decision

Labor Day – Board of Education may dismiss school. Holiday for non-teaching employees

First Monday

Past President

Region 10

Within First Two Weeks of First Day of School

Principal or teacher in charge of each chartered public or nonpublic school must file enrollment report with the treasurer of the school district in which the school is located and update that report during the first week of each month.

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Deadline for teachers to file transcripts showing additional training with the treasurer

Region 1

OACTS

Mary Beth Freeman

**PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL IN PERSON EVENTS ARE CURRENTLY POSTPONED OR CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THANK YOU.

Delaware Career Center (740) 201-3204 freemanm@delawareareacc.org

Deadline for administration of language and reading skills portion of the kindergarten assessment; the balance of the prescribed assessments can be performed between the first day of school and November 1 Deadline to provide Emergency Medical Authorization forms to parents Deadline for Board of Education to adopt resolution declaring its intent not to provide career-technical education to students in grades 7 through 12 Deadline to submit the names of all covered licensed staff members to STRS and all covered nonteaching staff members to SERS

Region 2

OALSS

Tom Perkins

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Northern Local Schools (740) 743-1303 no_tperkins@seovec.org ESC of Central Ohio (614) 542-4153 tom.goodney@escco.org Akron Public Schools (330) 761-2920 djames@akron.k12.oh.us Tom Goodney David James OESCA (614) 846-3855 burford@oesca.org MCOECN (440) 724-9800 andrews@mcoecn.org OSLF (614) 846-4080 mcvey@basa-ohio.org Geoff Andrews Dale McVey Craig Burford

Region 3

OESCA

October 1

Deadline for adoption of permanent appropriations for the fiscal year (unless delayed because the amended certificate has not been received)

Region 4

Appointed Director

Second Monday

Columbus Day – A Board of Education may dismiss school.

Deadline for Board of Education to file a summary of immunization records, by school, to the Ohio Director of Health

15 31

Enrollment reporting date (also last day of March and June)

Region 5

OESCA

November

Deadline for treasurer to notify Board of Education of the amount necessary to provide for the payment of final judgments against the Board (except for condemnation of property cases)

First Monday

Region 6

MCOECN

First Tuesday After First Monday

General Election Day (Board of Education members are elected in odd-numbered years.)

Veterans Educate Today’s Students Day (“VETS) on which all schools are encouraged to observe the day by inviting veterans, on or about this day, to visit schools and discuss their military experiences Veteran’s Day – Board of Education may dismiss school. Commemoration is required.

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The mission of the Buckeye Association of School Administrators is to inspire and support its members, develop exemplary school system leaders, and advocate for public education. Our Mission

Region 7

OSLF

Thanksgiving Day – Board of Education may dismiss school. Holiday for nonteaching staff members

Fourth Thursday

Legal Counsel

Nicole Donovsky

150 Days After Close of Previous Fiscal Year

Deadline for district treasurer using generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to file financial report with the Auditor of State and to publish notice that the report is available; the deadline for districts not using GAAP is 90 days after the close of the fiscal year

Bricker & Eckler LLP ndonovsky@bricker.com

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