Board approves multiple vendor contracts, fees and an out-of-town soccer trip

The Sycamore Community City Board of Education approved a slate of routine business items June 30, including contracts for student services, cybersecurity, personnel actions and student fees.

Contracts approved by roll call included agreements with Applied Behavioral Services, Western Nursing Services, the Cincinnati Center for Autism, Ohio Valley Voices (a specialized placement program), the Warren County Educational Service Center and a Fortinet firewall service. Board members asked for brief descriptions of specialized placements; administrators explained Ohio Valley Voices provides services for students with cochlear implants and embedded hearing-impaired instruction.

The board approved a personnel consent agenda and several end-of-year fund transfers, including transfers to athletics and technology permanent-improvement (PI) funds. Finance staff reported an advance to the natatorium fund made in 2023 is now largely repayable; $2.8 million will be returned to the general fund after donor receipts were applied.

The board adopted two fees for the coming year: a $40 academic consumable fee per student intended to cover class materials and consumables (not fully detailed in the transcript), and a $75 extracurricular participation fee per sport for junior high and high school athletics; waivers are available for eligible students.

Because the girls' high-school soccer team travel dates fall before the board's July meeting, members amended the agenda to add and approve an out-of-town showcase trip to Strongsville High School (July 7'19). The board accepted community donations and scheduled follow-up items as needed.

All routine motions were moved, seconded and approved by roll call.