More on the Roof: Special Meeting 8/19

We met to discuss the roof and the decision was made, in compliance with the Ohio Revised Code, to direct the administration to seek out a design architect to oversee an immediate "button-up" of the roof followed next year by the necessary complete overhaul. The architect selected (and the administration will speak to three before making a selection) will then seek bids for the job, but the board, advised by the Building and Grounds Committee (I sit on this committee and Judy Hansen is chair) will have the final say in which roofing company takes the job. No resolutions were passed, since none were needed for this action.
In other news, look for a special meeting coming before the end of August to address the ongoing issues with Pace Career Center.

Keeping the Lid On It

Or more accurately, the roof. That was the main topic of discussion at our regularly scheduled board meeting this evening, along with the usual approval of the fiscal report, the conferences attended by employees, and accepting some wonderful grants for early childhood education, etc.
The roof at the Shuer Center (sometimes referred to as the Challenger Center, since that is where, among other entities, the Challenger Learning Center is housed) is in dire need of repair. There are numerous options, but one course of action is clear: we must do something. Hard numbers will be gathered by our treasurer and alternatives explored, but we need to act rather quickly in some capacity, even if it is just doing the work that can be done to stave off the inevitable for one more year. To this end, we are having a special meeting next Tuesday at 5 PM to look at the data gathered and work toward the best decision possible for those who work, learn and pay for the Shuer Center. Check the blog next week for an update of what happens at the meeting on 8/19/08.
In other news, we are waiting for Pace Career Central to respond to the notice we sent them to suspend operations. Their doors are closed, they are not receiving any funding, and they have five business days to respond to us. We are waiting for the response. Again, check here for an update as soon as one arrives.

Board Votes to Suspend Operations at Pace Career Central Community School

At a special meeting of the board this morning, the decision to suspend operations at Pace Career Central Community School in Dayton was unanimous. The school, which was slated to open for classes on Monday, will have its doors closed and funding ceased. The opportunity exists for the school to provide a corrective action plan to the board, which must be submitted within five business days. If a corrective action plan is submitted, the board has three options: 1) vote to re-open the school; 2) vote to suspend operations indefinitely; 3) vote to close the school permanently.
The students who attend Pace, which bills itself as a "drop-out recovery" institution (although it has not been given this status by the state) must be notified of the situation within two days, so that they can make alternative arrangements for education this fall. Dayton, which has the highest number of community schools in the state, has several nearby options for the students as well as the Dayton Public Schools.
The Lucas County ESC currently sponsors 72 charter schools throughout the state. If Pace Career Central Community School were to close, that number would drop to 71 but the LCESC would remain the largest sponsor of charter schools in Ohio.