INDIAN HILL EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT MINUTES
Special Meeting of March 12, 2020

A special meeting of the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District was held on Thursday, March 12, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., in the Indian Hill High School Multipurpose Room, 6865 Drake Road, Cincinnati, OH 45243 in accordance with notices sent to each member. The meeting was called to order by Mrs. Aichholz, President at 7:30 p.m. and roll call showed the following members as present:

Mrs. Aichholz Mrs. Lewis

Dr. Hooker	Mrs. Johnston Mrs. Singh

Also present were Kirk Koennecke, Mick Davis, Chris Patek, Brad Motz, Bill Baker, Heather Higdon, Mark Ault, Jeff Gibson, Tom Butt, Mike Murdock, Mary Siegel, Andrew Laskey, Kent Cashell, John Larson, Laurie Sharrock, Bear Tullis, Stef Cushman, Amy Campa, Eppa Rixey, Jeff Heinechen, Mark Atwood, Lori Klinedinst, Melissa Stewart, and others.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Mr. Koennecke led the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance with those in attendance.

ADOPTION OF SPECIAL BUSINESS MEETING AGENDA (032016) – Dr. Hooker moved, seconded by Mrs. Johnston, to adopt the agenda of the special business meeting of the Indian Hill Board of Education. All members present voted aye. Motion carried.

LEVY DIALOGUE

Mrs. Lewis thanked MSA for their work on the budgets and their ability to get feedback to the Board. CM found that budgets were appropriate. Many presentations since October and feedback from stockholders. Would like to take the $77 million and reduce by $4 million of energy savings. Levy of 5.5 mills would be difficult. 3.0 mill levy would equate to $72 million. There are things in the budget that could be re-worked. Bond levy of 3.0 mill would equate to 2.5 mill operating levy.
Dr. Hooker leans toward the middle of the $77-$82 million range. Doesn’t want to get to construction and not have enough for all items requested. $72 million could potentially hamstring the project. $76-$77 million range is reasonable. Mrs. Johnston served on the Board for 15 years and has served many times on the Operations Committee. In that time, projects have consistently been within range. District needs to focus on roofing, HVAC, and furniture. These are items that are not exciting but are important for the long-term of buildings. Finds there is a small difference financially between $77 and $82 million. Would like to see the Board move closer to the $82 million. It is not the Board’s job to keep people happy who are never happy with the Board.
Mrs. Singh thanked MSA and the committees that have been a part of the project. Originally part of the Facilities Steering Committee and appreciates the hard work. Happy with the outcome of the budget comparisons. Comfortable with the $77 million project.
Mrs. Aichholz noted the Board was fairly close in numbers. She was seriously considering what number would sound good to the public. She realizes that combining the levies complicates the public’s understanding. Likes a total combined levy of 5.5 mills but could live with 5.6 mills.
Mrs. Johnston noted that the millage number needs to resonate but the difference between the considered numbers amounts to about $60/year on a million-dollar home.
Mrs. Lewis expressed concern of the combined levy stating that the operating levy cannot fail.

Mr. Baker, MSA Architects, explained how the project can be finished because of cushion in market conditions. The design team will have to make decisions. The Board needs to decide a number of which they are comfortable and the design team will help make choices to fit the budget.
Mrs. Aichholz asked Jeff Gibson about the mindset of the Facilities Committee.

Mr. Gibson stated that they were looking at the next two decades of education at Indian Hill, not just tomorrow. The committee wanted to challenge the Board to do the same.
Mr. Tullis, who was also on the committee said the committee spent a lot of time discussing items that should have been touched twenty years ago during the District’s last build. Sawtooth and A/C in the High School gym are prime examples. The committee wanted a one-time effort. Safety has changed in that time period as well.

RESOLUTION DECLARING THE NECESSITY OF SUBMITTING TO THE ELECTORS (032017) - Dr. Hooker moved, seconded by Mrs. Johnston;

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 5705.218 of the Revised Code and as provided in this resolution, this Board has determined to submit to the electors of this School District, at an election to be held on November 3, 2020, the single question of (i) issuing bonds

INDIAN HILL EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT MINUTES - March 12, 2020

for the purpose stated in Section 1 of this resolution and levying a tax to pay debt charges on those bonds and any securities issued in anticipation of them, and (ii) levying a tax outside the ten-mill limitation to provide funds to pay for current operating expenses;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Education of the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District, County of Hamilton, Ohio, not less than two-thirds (2/3) of all members thereof concurring, that:

Section 1. Declaration of Necessity of Issuing School Facilities Improvement Bonds. This Board finds, determines and declares that it is necessary to issue general obligation bonds of the Indian Hill Exempted Village School District in the aggregate principal amount of $77,000,000 for the purpose of constructing, adding to, renovating, remodeling, furnishing, equipping and otherwise improving School District buildings and facilities and acquiring, clearing, equipping and otherwise improving School District building and facility sites (the Bonds), and to levy an additional tax outside of the ten-mill limitation imposed by Section 2 of Article XII of the Ohio Constitution on the entire territory of the School District (all of which is located in Hamilton County) to pay the debt charges on the Bonds and any anticipatory securities. The approximate date of the Bonds will be February 1, 2021. The maximum number of years over which the principal of the Bonds may be paid is 30, and the Bonds will bear interest at a rate now estimated at 3.75% per year, payable semiannually. This Board anticipates that the tax for debt charges on the Bonds will first be levied in tax year 2020 and first be collected in calendar year 2021 and will continue to be levied annually in each tax year for collection in each calendar year in which debt charges on the Bonds and any anticipatory securities will be payable.

Section 2. Declaration of Necessity of Tax Levy for Current Operating Expenses. This Board hereby finds, determines and declares that the amount of taxes that can be raised within the ten-mill limitation by levies on the current tax list and duplicate will be insufficient to provide an adequate amount for the present and future requirements of the School District, and that it is necessary to levy an additional ad valorem property tax in excess of that limitation at the rate of 2.46 mills to provide funds to pay for current operating expenses for a period of five years. If approved, that tax will be levied upon the entire territory of the School District commencing in tax year 2020, for first collection in calendar year 2021.

Section 3. Submission of Single Question to the Electors. Pursuant to Section 5705.218 of the Revised Code, the single question of (i) the issuance of the Bonds and the levying of the associated tax to pay debt charges on the Bonds and any anticipatory securities and (ii) the levying of an additional 2.46-mill tax to provide funds to pay for current operating expenses for a period of five years shall be submitted to the electors of the entire territory of the School District at an election to be held in the School District on November 3, 2020.

Section 4. Certification and Delivery of Resolution to County Auditor. The Treasurer of this Board is directed to certify a copy of this resolution to the Hamilton County Auditor, and, in accordance with Sections 5705.03(B) and 5705.218 of the Revised Code, this Board hereby requests the Hamilton County Auditor to certify to it (i) the total current tax valuation of this School District, (ii) the estimated average annual property tax levy, expressed in dollars and cents for each one hundred dollars of tax valuation and in mills for each one dollar of tax valuation, that the County Auditor estimates to be required throughout the stated maturity of the Bonds to pay debt charges on the Bonds, assuming that they are all issued in one series and bear interest and mature in substantially equal principal amounts in each year over the maximum number of years over which the principal of the Bonds may be paid, both as stated in Section 1, and that the amount of the tax valuation of this School District for the current year (or, if that amount is not determined, the estimated amount of that tax valuation submitted by the County Auditor to the County Budget Commission) remains the same throughout the maturity of the bonds (except as may otherwise be provided in Section 133.18(C)(2) of the Revised Code), and (iii) the dollar amount of revenue that would be generated annually by the additional 2.46-mill tax levy referred to in Section 2.

Section 5. Requests for Consents. This Board hereby requests the consents of the State Tax Commissioner and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to the submission of this question, as the School District’s net indebtedness after the issuance of the Bonds will exceed four percent of the total value of all property in the School District as listed and assessed for taxation. The President and Treasurer of this Board and the Superintendent of Schools are each authorized to prepare and sign any letters, applications and other materials and documents that must be filed with the State Tax Commissioner and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to obtain their consents for the submission of the question of the issuance of the Bonds to the electors in accordance with Section 133.06(C) of the Revised Code, Ohio Department of Taxation Tax Equalization Division Bulletin 8 and State Board of Education Policy No. SF-A-04.

Section 6. Compliance with Open Meeting Requirements. This Board finds and determines that all formal actions of this Board and of any of its committees concerning and relating to the adoption of this resolution were taken, and that all deliberations of this Board and of any of its committees that resulted in those formal actions were held, in meetings open to the public, in compliance with the law.

INDIAN HILL EXEMPTED VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT MINUTES - March 12, 2020

Section 7. Effective Date. This resolution shall be in full force and effect from and immediately upon its adoption.

Roll call vote was as follows:

Mrs. Aichholz, aye Mrs. Lewis, aye

Dr. Hooker, aye	Mrs. Johnston, aye Mrs. Singh, aye

PUBLIC COMMENTARY

Amy Campa – I am a District parent of senior and a junior, a 14-year employee of IH and incoming President of IHEPO. On behalf of the educators within the Indian Hill School District, I want to offer you a sincere thanks for the steps you have taken to secure a Brave future for the students, parents, and community members. The District is a special place. Our students have unparalleled opportunities to participate in nationally recognized programs for academics, arts, and athletics. Our parents serve as partners within our classrooms, auditoriums, gymnasiums and fields through their support of the IH PTO, the IH Boosters and the IH Foundation. They work alongside other community members who volunteer within our classrooms, fill our auditoriums, and cheer from the sidelines as our Braves learn, perform, and compete. And, it is special for educators who are the best of the best, and who are always looking for how to continuously improve. We are given the professional opportunities and freedoms to work within this framework of excellence. We get to know each child’s individual talents and interests and help them grow into healthy, productive members of society. Your vote to place the combined operational and bond issue before our community this November 3, 2020 helps to ensure the District’s vision of Enduring Excellence in Learning, Leadership, Innovation, and Service holds true.
Stef Cushman – Thank you as a parent for taking these steps. The past two weeks, PTO has benn doing Brave-a-thon. Students took strips of paper and wrote what it meant to be a Brave or to be brave. Being a Brave is being kind whether others treat you with kindness. This showed just how thoughtful are students are. Thanks for enabling the future for our kids. This is an amazing place with Brave kids.
Jeff Heinechen – I have lived in the school district for over 50 years. I am an attorney, an entrepreneur, a SCORE mentor, a member of the Indian Hill School District’s Finance Committee and I am the current President of the Indian Hill PTO. I have seen a tremendous amount of change and growth in the IH School District and its buildings since the early 1960s and as a longtime volunteer at the IH Primary, Elementary and Middle Schools these last few years, I would say I have a lot of personal experience working in those facilities as well. I would not be able to accurately count the number of meetings, events and “class parties” (I forgot to say I am the “room mom” for my daughter – now going on three years) I have attended in all of the buildings. There have been many. During those times I have also had the honor to work with finest faculty and administrators of any school district. These are awesome people that work so very hard to make the IH School District one of the best in the State of Ohio. I know the Facilities committee did a lot of work reviewing the buildings and their current conditions, and the Finance committee did a lot of work coming up with its recommendations. You all may recall the Finance Committee presentation made by Nolan Marx and Amy Campa in January of this year. The Committee spent a lot of time over a nine-month period, both in committee meetings and meeting privately with Mick Davis, to review the District’s financials and financial situation. Based on those meetings the Finance Committee recommended, in a “unanimous conclusion/decision of the committee” for the combined bond levy ballot to be voted on by the District’s residents in November 2020. I wanted to add my personal support and the support of the IH PTO for that recommendation and to offer any and all assistance to help make it come to fruition. Thank you for your time and attention and the opportunity to add my voice to this very important matter.
Lori Klinedinst – Both of her children have graduated from IH and she is very happy for the education they received. She offered her support.
Rohit Nayak – Rohit’s son is a sophomore. Brave new possibilities are part of the IH Foundation. As most of you know, I am clearly supporter of the schools. Watching today’s deliberations was very heartening. Decisions were not made before the deliberations and as a district resident, I am very happy with the process.
Eppa Rixey - Longtime resident of the District. Children are all graduates and they were prepared very well. Former mayor of Indian Hill and was here when the auditorium was built. The Board of Education made the difficult decision between the auditorium and a swimming pool. I am a supporter and will do what the District needs. Do not regret the decision to go a little higher on the bond because of safety and air quality.
Bear Tullis – 2000 graduate of IH. Made the decision to move back because of the schools. Impressed with the amount of attention given to each and every kid. Amount of support from my own network is huge and nobody has said they would be against a levy. No significant increase in revenue in ten years is baffling to me. Excited to see this process play out.