Aurora Board of Education - 7/28/25

Aurora City Schools Board of Education
​July 28, 2025

Board Packet

Observer Notes

Pledge of Allegiance

Roll Call: 
Mr. Acomb: here     Mrs. Schenider: here            Mrs. Klich: here
Mrs. Mehallis: here     Mr. Sabulsky: here

1. Special Reports/Recognitions – none

Acknowledgement of Visitors

Hearing of Public (15 Minutes) Agenda and Non-Agenda Items

This period of the Board meeting is allocated to hearing public comments on both agenda and non-agenda items. The Board and Administration do not respond at Board meetings to questions from the audience not will they comment. Individuals wishing to comment should register on the comment sign-up sheet that will be placed at the entrance to the Board Meeting. The public comment period is a maximum of thirty minutes and each speaker will be limited to a total of three minutes. The Board Treasurer or Board President will keep the time. Each person addressing the Board is requested to provide her/his name and address upon being recognized by the chair. The Treasurer will include this information in the Board meeting minutes. 

1. Approval of Minutes

1. Regular Meeting of June 23, 2025 – Motion passes. 

1. Superintendent’s Report – Salary Study Memorandum, Pay to Participate
   1. Per Milcetich, Salary study memorandum, 30 some positions, only some new. Costs of new hires (highly qualified, but less experience). We have to pay out severance. If you look at whole package, 1 million savings. 
   2. Old Agenda – pay to participate recommendation – this was studied by athletic department – we’ve tried not to raise the cost of pay to participate. We have never raised previously. 
2. Treasurer’s Report/Recommendation

1. Resolution to Approve Financial Statements and Reports Ex. D-1; Motion passes
   1. General Fund; Student Activity Fund, Categorical Funds, Investments, and Debts dated 06/30/25
2. Mr. Volisin, final financial report. End of June report. 3.1 million expenditures exceeded revenues. Revenues 68% greater than projected. Expenses 14% greater than projected. Restricted grants – science of reading dyslexia stipend. City of Aurora Income Taz Credit on abated properties – higher than last year. Revenues $400,000 greater due to dyslexia stipend. About a million dollars unfavorable variance – personnel services $$ 204,000 stipend. The larger # of folks retiring and paying severance. We had a couple of severance payouts in the middle of the year. Health services (nursing cost) and electricity climbed $110,000 more than previous year; repair and maintenance costs increased due to aging facilities. Operating revenue increased 4.1 million – 3.8 million increase in personal property from 5.9 operating levy. FY 2024 only saw half of that levy. FY 2025 was the first full year. Because of the reappraisals in the City, $500,000 picked up. Operating expenditures increased 4.9 million, including personnel services 2.4 million + benefits. ESSR funds covering ChromeBooks in previous years. Operating in the black. 5-year history provided to the board. You get a levy passed. You get growing expenditures. 
   1. Per Chair Mehallis, what is the reason for increase in electricity? Per Bill watchdog for electricity, making sure lights are turned off. Costs increase over time. Replaced lights with LEDs. Air conditioning will raise costs. Demand readings done during the summer. Part of that is the high school, it’s hard not to air condition the high school because it’s open all summer long. Partnership with community/City. 
   2. Per Acomb, the best thing we did was to enter into an agreement. 
3. Resolution to Approve Then and Now Ex. D-2; Schneider motions, Klich seconds, motion passes. 
   1. Therapy for services for ESY – special education services. PO not processed previously. LLA Therapy $4,000.
4. Resolution Advances and Transfers Ex. D-3; Chair Mehallis motions, Acomb seconds; motion passes. 
   1. Advances food service: $200,000, payroll costs – once revenue generated then advance will be paid off. 
   2. Advances to Athletics: $150,000

1. New Business

1. Action Items: 
   1. Resolution to Accept Gifts and Contributions Ex. E-1-a; Motion passes.
      1. Laurie Krizansky donated 9 yoga mats, fifteen yoga block and fifteen yoga straps worth $200 to AHS Health/PE Department.
   2. Resolution to Approve Staff Resignations and/or Recommendations 
      1. Resolution to Accept Resignations/Retirements Ex. E-1-b-1; Motion passes
         1. Trent Dalton (AHS MD parapro) – resignation effective at the endo the 24-25 SY
         2. Carla Hoover (LES paraeducator)  - resignation August 10, 2025
         3. Jackie Duffy (Transportation) – Retirement as of September 1, 2025 (bus driving only) 
         4. Rita Corey (AHS Cafeteria Reg) Resignation of Cafeteria position effective August 1, 2025
         5. Kimberly Armbrecht (CES Teacher) thirty years of service – retirement effective September 5, 2025
         6. Laney Noska (LES Paraeducator) – Resignation effective at the end of the 24-25 SY
         7. McClane Mitch (CES Paraeducator) Resignation effective at the end of the 24-25 SY
         8. Stacy Glover (MES Cafeteria) Resignation effective at the end of the 24-25 SY
         9. Michelle Nizen (LES Principal) Resignation as of July 30, 2025
      2. Resolution to Award Supplemental District Contracts for 2025-2026 Ex. E-1-b-2; Motion passes (see list in Board packet) 
      3. Resolution to Approve Introductory Appointment of Support Staff Ex. E-1-b-3; Motion passes
         1. Denise Armstrong (LES Paraeducator)
         2. Jody Radcliffe (HMS Paraeducator)
         3. Aiden Force (HMS Paraeducator) 
         4. Rita Corey (AHS Head Cafeteria) 
      4. Resolution to Approve Part-Time PT Ex. E-1-b-4; Motion passes 
         1. Jack Wervey (student worker)
         2. Connor McLendon (student worker) 
         3. Oliver Hagen (student worker)
      5. Resolution to Terminate Employment of Support Staff Members Ex. E-1-b-5; Motion passes 
         1. Mikayla Hutchins (paraeducator)
         2. Nathan Bell (custodian substitute) 
      6. Resolution to Approve Teaching 1 yr Limited Contract for 2025-2026 Ex. E-1-b-6; Motion passes
         1. Caitlin Anderson (LES 5th grade teacher) 
      7. Resolution to Approve Medical Leave Ex. E-1-b-7; Motion passes 
         1. Greg Best August 11, 2025 through March 2, 2026
         2. Roy Dolezal August 11, 2025 through May 28, 2026
      8. Resolution to Correct Specialist FTE% Ex. E-1-b-8; Motion passes
         1. Christine Tartabini (HMS Mathematics Specialist) 37% FT to 27% FT
      9. Resolution to Approve Non-district Supplemental Contract for 2025-2026 Ex. E-1-b-9; Motion passes
         1. Alyssa Morgano (AHS Gymnastics Assistant Coach)
         2. Adam Hoover (HMS Assistant Football Coach)
      10. Resolution to Approve Appointment of Support Staff Ex. E-1-b-10; Motion passes
          1. Carla Hoover (LES shrt Hr Café)
      11. Resolution to Approve Plan for Completion of Make Up Days Via Virtual Access Ex. E-1-c; Motion passes 
      12. Resolution to Adjust 2025-26 Student Fees Ex. E-1-d; Motion passes 
          1. Harmon 7th and 8th grade $100
          2. High School Sports/Marching Band participation fee $200
      13. Resolution to Approve Updated Policy Manual Ex. E-1-e; Motion passes 
      14. Resolution to Approve the 2025-26 Bus Stops Ex. E-1-f; Motion passes 
      15. Resolution to Approve Final Budgets – Activity Accts Ex. E-1-g; Motion passes 
      16. Resolution to Approve Statement of Purpose Ex. E-1-h; Motion passes 
      17. Resolution to Pay Insurance Claim Ex. E-1-I; Motion passes 

1. Discussion Item: Facilities

First review board policy change – Brian, new treasurer, too restrictive to have credit card amount at $3,000. Some will be increased to $20,000. As I’ve been doing more days here, they brought up credit cards so I started to review. I looked at other districts (Youngstown has $600,000; Solon has $800,000). Common themes were credit card limits to $10,000, $15,000, and $20,000. In the current day, they are used more and more (use multiple cards sometimes). 
TdA and four facilities options. In June, TdA did present 4 different options moving forward. Per Paul, trying to understand where the Board stands on addressing the district’s aging infrastructure. New High School Plan; Elementary + Bus garage; addition plan; triage list.  

• Acomb: I think the feedback that we received based on last effort was to focus on the essentials. When we say that, the essentials are not only the obvious dealing with Craddock but dealing with upgrades across the district. Per Acomb, triage list include heating and air conditioning, it not only impacts comfort but air quality, necessary roof replacements. Treachery of parking lots. We have to find a way to address essentials, There are things in some of the plans that are non-essential. Community spoke clearly about new high school. When it really boils down to essential, it’s Craddock. In looking at what was presented to us, to include an elective ad-on for a new Natatorium is not essential. Costs are exorbitant and maintenance are ridiculous. Future generations will have to pay for maintenance and repair. There are high schools in the area that have closed Natatoriums. Confusion in community that it would be open to the community and that’s likely not the case – access to pool during school day is a security issue. A better solution to the pool problem is to let the City deal with pool. I served on committee with Mayor and Council and it’s on hold now. We have a property tax problem to be cognizant of. The City understands that they can’t put a pool before the schools. That’s a reality. Parks and Rec can provide programming if it is City owned. Pool is better served as a fixture of the City. Essentials has to be the theme of the discussion. 
• Per Pam, option 2 addresses some capacity issues dealing with Miller and Leighton and bus garage and most of the things on the triage list. 
• Per Molly, option 1 is a no-go. That’s clear from the way that the vote went and what the district needs. I would be concerned about adding onto the current buildings. Harmon specifically. Option 2 addresses what the community is saying. It hits a lot of the needs of the district. A very articulate Master Plan so community can see issues on triage list so it’s clear to voters/community that this is how the district intends to address those issues. I agree with the pool thing. That would be a tough sell. I’d be concerned about adding the pool on to another plan, unless it could go on as two separate issues. 
• Per Paul, we can do almost entire triage list for cost of pool – 17 million.
• Per Sabulsky, is the weight room open to the community? Per Paul, there are folks that use, but not completely open to community. 
• Per Jen, option 2 makes sense. Addressing essential needs and removing trailers, meeting needs and essentials the best we can. I don’t like the idea of adding on to every building.
• Per Sabulsky, I feel like option 2 will be better choice; I think that was selected on original survey. Harmon with foundational elements may be risky. What about the property next to Miller and Leighton? Per Paul, not viable. There’s not enough room. Per Sabulsky, option 2 still gives us field space. Does not impact much of green space. 
• Per Acomb, there is that small addition at Miller and this building to allow BOE offices to come here. The phasing plan for option 2, kids can stay in Craddock while construction of new building occurs. Per Paul, temporarily move bus garage. Per Acomb, do we have enough space to build transportation on other side of Craddock first, then build building? Per Paul, likely yes.
• Per Paul, we address parking lots, HVAC –discussed timeline under option 2. 
• Per Mehallis, consensus is option 2. Paul, Hayes, and new Treasurer agree. 

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