[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6259881,"mediaKeyId","3137038-adf610ddb9b380e3b76e59ef354580a3","parentId",3137038,"title","Sycamore board approves turf contracts, policy package, financial statements and robotics fee; donors to cover field cost","audioSeconds",268,"startMs",3155000,"endMs",3423000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3137038-adf610ddb9b380e3b76e59ef354580a3&start=3155&end=3423","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3137038-adf610ddb9b380e3b76e59ef354580a3/thumbnail_3155000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6259881/Ohio/Sycamore-board-approves-turf-contracts-policy-package-financial-statements-and-robotics-fee-donors-to-cover-field-cost","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259881-aa9e96d7a6dc4b7b4f70be00f34f0f78/orig.mp4?Expires=1770767518&Signature=QYBuk~kFUIEm7rQuacG1S6xO01almjF3cQRNPi7Fw0yLHn~FOVBT4wHYxbtvToQlmBPuBq7H8xCLIrcLKbCt1fw37ODOCRXLbLEP1S86rzMrdQTMd9WsTdMB-PeUjUcvBDsMkItRcRb2DcfL84aW-GbnAhqlbDb6w52U2JBmZ8SjnFhFZ3R5AQnNfLGIepDnNewrzUwO~OBqfU~SRJD0tnqqvJTSYe3IlYWs5Qt940ceaswEYJf1BnBp0RjiUaAZM-iRf2eX47FHHXG0PyRTeP4SQ3vjUy5tt63HxMpvJ7tDqsfTfhou7rnZvizok5gBoB7E7qkdEW27c0BeQV6F0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sycamore Community School District","date","2025-04-28T07:24:52.37Z","article","The Sycamore Community Schools Board of Education approved multiple routine and project items at its April 1 meeting, including a turf replacement contract funded by a private donation and a package of policy updates.

Key votes at a glance

- Approval of agenda — Motion by Dr. James; second by Mr. Ballant. Roll call: Dr. James, Mr. Ballant, Mr. Harris, Dr. Seager and Mrs. Bitter voted aye; motion approved.

- Approval of minutes — Motion by Dr. Seager; second by Mr. Harris. Roll call: unanimous aye; motion approved.

- Amendment to stadium gift agreements (addendum to Seager family donation to name field for Chris Combs) — Motion by Mr. Ballant; second by Dr. James. Board discussion noted the Seager-family donation would cover the cost. Roll call: unanimous aye; motion approved. The superintendent read biographical highlights of Chris Combs and said Mr. Seager proposed naming the new field \"Chris Combs Field\" as an addendum to the existing naming gift.

- Resolution agreement with Mott’s Group LLC (turf replacement contract) — Motion by Dr. James; second by Mr. Harris. The district indicated the turf estimate was within the capital forecast and that the donation covers the contract cost. Roll call: unanimous aye; contract approved.

- Policy updates (second reads) — The board moved to adopt a package of policy revisions provided by OSBA and recommended by the policy committee, including a recent religious-release-time item that staff said would return to committee for further local tailoring. Motion to approve: moved by Mr. Ballant; second by Dr. James. Roll call: unanimous aye; policies adopted for second read and, where required by law, approved on the record.

- Out-of-town field trip approvals — Motion and second recorded; roll call: unanimous aye; approved.

- Personnel consent agenda — Motion and second recorded; roll call: unanimous aye; approved.

- Month-end financial statements for the period ended 03/31/2025 — Motion by Dr. James; second by Mr. Ballant. Treasurer’s remarks noted higher purchased-services costs tied to curriculum purchases and special-education transportation; the board will review five-year-forecast assumptions in May. Roll call: unanimous aye; statements approved.

- Robotics program fee for 2025–26 — Motion and second recorded; roll call: unanimous aye; fee approved. Separately, the board received a student presentation from the Sycamore High School FIRST Robotics team, which reported roughly $21,000 in fundraising for the current year but no board action on fundraising items occurred.

- Acceptance of donations — Motion and second recorded; roll call: unanimous aye; donations accepted and acknowledged.

How the board framed funding and timing: Mrs. Logan (treasurer) and administrators said the Seager donation fully covers the turf contract and that the amount was within the district’s capital forecast. Mrs. Logan flagged that purchased-services spending is higher this year, driven by new curriculum purchases and special-education costs; she and board members said they will dig into five-year forecasting and potential budget scenarios in May and after the state budget is finalized.

What was not enacted: No new permanent tax or levies were approved. The board agreed to continue policy committee work on several items and to bring back additional committee discussion for policies that require further tailoring.

Votes and formal actions recorded on the public record matched roll-call tallies announced at the meeting; all recorded motions passed by roll-call majority (recorded as unanimous in the transcript).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Sycamore Schools Board of Education Meeting April 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Sycamore Community Schools board approved a turf contract, adopted a package of policy updates, accepted donations that administrators said would cover the turf work, and approved routine financial and personnel items at its April meeting.","taxTitle","Sycamore Community City, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",61490,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6259885,"Parents and residents ask board to strengthen ethics disclosure after text-message records",213,2213000,2426000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3137038-adf610ddb9b380e3b76e59ef354580a3&start=2213&end=2426","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3137038-adf610ddb9b380e3b76e59ef354580a3/thumbnail_2213000.jpg","/articles/6259885/Ohio/Parents-and-residents-ask-board-to-strengthen-ethics-disclosure-after-text-message-records","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259885-294dfb19cb739e583bd9f5313b051227/orig.mp4?Expires=1770767518&Signature=UzDRviL6aUyxyewF0DNXHDa0gjbWryYwCa5XxY5lZ3z8-n-U-axBGiYgIIVX6MDZ1Jcq7oPK1kxT8k9SyebyShSH4VfMAzMdiQYruWJHL-tWVNCKMSVOE9TXQu~ZHpEIKnDxO7v13c2fsrlPP-IS9qtBhkuSY2gSLJEyaPlcuRGuFG1EGoM3qfW~i02BfGaYNqO7v~wKlb2MoHA~mTfmtlgE1D-xkVb61TSPBIpqKYji6Q~uxiwA0-RLTAzIy3KUZlmH7XXxII5My64BRwdFbOBWEW05cly7mnpwj90mHu90SQo7IJdz2uys7fcZWIACZ4rdcw6QCGYyy5RfSrSx9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several residents and parents used the board’s public-comment time to press for stronger ethics and disclosure practices after public-records requests showed text exchanges among board members during a September meeting.

Brad Comerford, who said he obtained text-message records via a public-records request, told the board that a text from a board member contained the single word “fake” and was sent during a September 18 meeting while another speaker was addressing the board. “This raises several questions in my mind,” Comerford said, asking why the exchange was not disclosed during the subsequent investigation and whether board members had fully reported the messages to investigators.

Other public speakers echoed concerns about impartiality and transparency. Dee Jackson said messaging among board members has undermined trust at a time when families may be asked for additional funds. “Things like detective messaging with a teacher in a very inappropriate manner undermines that trust,” Jackson said. Heather Burgess said she signed a petition calling for termination of a board employee and described prior discipline and a grievance that she said contradicted public letters stating that an incident was a first offense.

Dr. DeShawn Pasha urged the board to consider adopting a formal conflict-of-interest disclosure policy requiring members to announce potential conflicts at the start of every public or executive-session meeting. “By implementing this policy, we’ll strengthen the integrity of the board’s action and further build confidence among parents, students, administrators, and the broader community,” Pasha said.

Why it matters: Callers said the records and prior discipline referenced in public comments raise questions about whether board members complied with district ethics policies and whether the community was given complete information during the earlier investigation.

What was requested and not decided: Speakers asked the board to (1) consider requiring disclosures at the start of every meeting, (2) publicize timelines for training and other remedies referenced in recently adopted resolutions, and (3) report which board members had self-reported to the Ohio Ethics Commission and to post campaign-contribution disclosures. The board did not adopt a new disclosure rule at the meeting; members agreed to revisit policies and to provide updates but did not set specific publication dates on the record.

Authorities and policies noted on the record: public commenters cited the district’s board-member ethics policies (referred to in public comments as “policy BBS” and “policy BBF” in the transcript) and pointed to prior personnel actions described in an investigative file. The speakers asked that the board clarify which policies apply and make the timeline of remedial actions public.

Next steps: Multiple speakers requested that the board return to the issue with specific timelines and documentation. Board members acknowledged the concerns and said they would consider follow-up; the board did not vote on new ethics or disclosure rules at this meeting.","Public speakers cited text messages obtained through public-records requests and urged the Sycamore board to require conflict disclosures and follow up on findings from an investigation; callers asked for timelines and transparency on disciplinary steps involving a board member.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6259890,"Parents press Sycamore schools to fix playgrounds after wheelchair accident",521,1657000,2178000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3137038-adf610ddb9b380e3b76e59ef354580a3&start=1657&end=2178","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3137038-adf610ddb9b380e3b76e59ef354580a3/thumbnail_1657000.jpg","/articles/6259890/Ohio/Parents-press-Sycamore-schools-to-fix-playgrounds-after-wheelchair-accident","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6259890-0028ab4c161c9d7234671084ff78b123/orig.mp4?Expires=1770767518&Signature=Jj~hwKw9WdGaPYavhtf53ZWORPcB1qmkS4TSq1qmuKy9FrYclAkySxNYnf0Q-DNynRp1uRZ5BdnsO2gG~9gkV0h31BGEiAk2U86AmFItZPezSOql69JUz9KAcQ8Gg3PFNnf8haD5HvwqnuLFBC~G9RU52Q79ajhKAqEG7-0nXezGQ0Lr3ASf7kQmrdQtn3ZRXfHKIZl0gkp9~BTlGx4y5BTA6q-6S93ggZxKiNd~5a~yVBeLA4y6az1STIqOxpe9oyD0ScuyyiCRLm~AWrFqTKRb5F9Pgd2fJwWJaxGjIkfXgkXMJiMUeeVJL8sWrC1z7w1kRd-LLP-5xr3yRcZz8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Parents of students with disabilities urged the Sycamore Community Schools Board of Education on April 1 to prioritize inclusive playgrounds after recounting repeated accessibility failures, including one accident in which a preschooler’s wheelchair flipped into mulch.

The comments came during the board’s public-participation period, where several parents described barriers that leave children with mobility and sensory needs on the sidelines during recess. “Teddy is one of many students in this district with significant disability. He uses a wheelchair, is nonverbal, and relies on adult support and compliant infrastructure to allow equal access to his education,” said Dr. Allie Adams, a parent of a Sims Preschool student.

The parents’ core request was twofold: find building funds to resurface the Sims preschool playground to remove wood mulch that impedes wheelchairs, and identify infrastructure funds to plan phased overhauls of elementary playgrounds so they meet universal-design standards.

Why it matters: Parents said Sycamore’s reputation as a destination district for students with disabilities requires more than ad hoc fixes. “The bare minimum of ADA compliance is not acceptable,” Adams said, describing security-camera footage she said shows her son face down and buried in mulch after his chair flipped when crossing a transition between sidewalk and play surface.

Other parents gave concrete examples. Rachel Pettibone, whose son uses a walker and wheelchair, said she repeatedly has asked for a direct, unobstructed route into buildings, working handicapped parking at dismissal, and accessible cafeteria tables. Pettibone asked the district to pursue playground surfacing designed for universal access, noting that a 5-point harness swing at Mapletale is placed on a separate kindergarten area and was out of service from May 2024 until at least January 2025.

Margo Ritchie, whose child has an ultra-rare medical diagnosis and attends Sims Preschool, described moving into the district specifically for its services and urged the board to maintain the supports that attracted families like hers.

Board and administration response: District leaders acknowledged the concerns and committed to follow-up. Mr. Lewis, a district administrator, told commenters he would reach out for deeper conversations and thanked parents for their candor. Board members said they value accessibility and will keep the issue on their agenda as staff examine capital and facility priorities.

What was not decided: No new capital appropriation or formal vote occurred during the meeting. Parents requested that the board discuss the playground-audit findings with families of students with disabilities and include parents in planning; the board did not set a date or allocate funds during the session.

Next steps noted on the record: Parents asked for (1) a resurfacing of the Sims preschool playground (preschool serves districtwide students with individualized education programs) and (2) a multi-year plan and funding source identification to redesign elementary playgrounds for universal access. District staff said they would follow up with parents and bring additional information back to the board.","Parents of students with disabilities urged the Sycamore Community Schools board to act after a preschool wheelchair rollover and repeated accessibility problems, asking the district to resurface Sims preschool playground and plan longer-term playground overhauls across elementary sites.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sycamore board approves turf contracts, policy package, financial statements and robotics fee; donors to cover field cost

Parents and residents ask board to strengthen ethics disclosure after text-message records

Parents press Sycamore schools to fix playgrounds after wheelchair accident