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Heads up! We have scanned the upcoming agenda for Buckeye Valley Local. We found 11 items that need your immediate attention before the vote.
| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 10) |
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District Proposes Banning Parents from Recording Special Ed Meetings
Under Item 8.1, the Board will take a final vote to rescind Policy po2461, which explicitly permits parents to audio record IEP and 504 meetings. Removing this policy strips parents of a critical tool for ensuring their special needs child receives the services they are legally entitled to and creates a massive transparency gap.
Recommended Action Plan
PACK THE ROOM: This is a direct attack on the rights of parents with special needs children. Call Board President Donald Dicke at (740) 369-8735 and email Superintendent Richard Stranges at rstranges@mybvls.org: ‘Vote NO on rescinding Policy po2461. Parents must have the right to record IEP meetings to protect their children.’
💰 Impact: Parental Oversight
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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District Spending Over $27,000 on SEL Curriculum Vendor
The financial report under Item 4.1 shows payments of $16,125 to ‘Teach Town’ and $10,890 to ‘Bluum of Minnesota’ (a TeachTown reseller). TeachTown is a curriculum provider known for embedding Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and behavioral interventions, often for special needs students, which can replace core academic instruction.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND ANSWERS: Email Superintendent Richard Stranges at rstranges@mybvls.org: ‘Regarding the payments to TeachTown and Bluum in the financial report, what specific SEL concepts does this curriculum teach, and how much instructional time is dedicated to it instead of core academics?’
💰 Impact: $27,015
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| HIGH CONCERN (LEVEL 8) |
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Psychology Contract Extension Hidden in Consent Agenda
Item 5.7 on the Consent Agenda extends a contract with ‘Achieve Psychology’ for more school-based services due to an ‘increase in caseload.’ Bundling this vote hides the expansion of psychological services that may occur without direct parental consent or presence, creating a parallel health system inside our schools.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND TRANSPARENCY: Email Superintendent Richard Stranges at rstranges@mybvls.org: ‘I demand that Item 5.7, the Achieve Psychology contract, be pulled from the Consent Agenda for a separate discussion and roll-call vote. Parents deserve to know the scope of these services and what parental notification protocols are in place.’
💰 Impact: Parental Consent
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 7) |
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District Paying for More School-Based Behavioral Health Services
The disbursement report for Item 4.1 includes a $7,500 payment to ‘Central Ohio Behavioral.’ This continues the trend of funding school-based mental and behavioral health services, which can lead to students receiving treatment and counseling based on controversial ideologies without full parental knowledge or consent.
Recommended Action Plan
ASK THE QUESTION: Email Superintendent Richard Stranges at rstranges@mybvls.org: ‘Regarding the payment to Central Ohio Behavioral, what specific services are being provided to students, and what is the district’s policy for obtaining active, written parental consent before any non-emergency psychological service is rendered?’
💰 Impact: $7,500
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| NEEDS REVIEW (LEVEL 6) |
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Attendance Policy Creates Student Surveillance System
The Board is set for a final vote on Policy po5200 (Item 8.1), which establishes a ‘Tiered System of More Intensive Interventions’ and an ‘Absence Intervention Team.’ This is Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) language for tracking students and triggering interventions that can increase data collection and district overreach into family life.
Recommended Action Plan
DEMAND CLARITY: Call Board President Donald Dicke at (740) 369-8735 before the meeting. ‘Regarding Policy po5200, what specific data is collected on students in the intervention tiers, and what actions can an Absence Intervention Team take without explicit parental consent?’
💰 Impact: Student Surveillance
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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Preschool Handbook Vote with No Document Attached
Under Item 7.1, the Board is scheduled to approve the 2026-2027 Preschool Handbook, but the handbook itself is not included in the agenda packet for public review. This handbook contains foundational policies on discipline, social interactions, and family engagement that parents have a right to see before they are approved.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: The Preschool Handbook was not attached to the public agenda. Email Superintendent Richard Stranges at rstranges@mybvls.org and demand the vote on Item 7.1 be postponed until the full handbook is posted for public review for at least 48 hours.
💰 Impact: Lack of Transparency
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| MONITOR (LEVEL 5) |
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District Spending $9,000 on ‘Horses for Healing’ Therapy
The financial report (Item 4.1) shows a $9,000 payment to ‘Stockhands Horses for Healing.’ While potentially beneficial, this type of animal-assisted therapy often falls under the umbrella of ‘trauma-informed care’ or SEL, and parents should be aware of the therapeutic models being used with their children.
Recommended Action Plan
REQUEST INFORMATION: Email Superintendent Richard Stranges at rstranges@mybvls.org: ‘Regarding the $9,000 payment to Stockhands Horses for Healing, what is the therapeutic framework for this program, and is it available to all students or only those with specific, parent-approved therapy plans?’
💰 Impact: $9,000
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| ALERT (LEVEL 4) |
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District Hires ‘Hatched Consulting’ for Undisclosed Training
The financial report (Item 4.1) lists payments totaling $6,325 to ‘Hatched Consulting LLC.’ This firm provides teacher and leadership training, which can be a vehicle for introducing DEI, SEL, or other ideological concepts into the district. The specific content of this training has not been disclosed to the public.
Recommended Action Plan
VERIFY THE VENDOR: Email Superintendent Richard Stranges at rstranges@mybvls.org: ‘Regarding the payments to Hatched Consulting, please provide the public with copies of the training materials used in these sessions so parents can review them.’
💰 Impact: $6,325
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| ALERT (LEVEL 3) |
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Bus Lease Contract Hidden in Consent Agenda
Item 5.6 approves a 3-year bus lease purchase agreement with Santander Bank, but the contract document was not included in the public agenda packet. Financial agreements should be fully transparent to the public before being approved in a bundled vote.
Recommended Action Plan
INVESTIGATE: Open the file for Item 5.6 attached in the Official Agenda (linked above) to confirm the terms of the bus lease agreement. Ensure there are no unfavorable or unusual financial clauses.
💰 Impact: Undisclosed
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✅ Wins to Defend
Good moves worth showing up to support so they stick.
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| Major Win (LEVEL 9) |
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District Approving New Policy to Ban DEI Loyalty Oaths
The Board is holding a second reading and final vote on Policy po2265, ‘Protections of Individual Beliefs.’ This new policy would prohibit the district from requiring employees or students to agree with or express opinions about specific political or ideological movements, effectively banning the use of DEI ‘commitment statements’ in hiring, promotion, or academics.
How to Lock It In
SHOW UP TO SUPPORT: This is a huge win for free speech and against compelled ideology. Attend the meeting to thank the Board for passing Policy po2265. This sets a powerful precedent for other districts.
✅ Why It Matters: Protects Free Speech
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| Major Win (LEVEL 9) |
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New Policy Would Ban Use of Tax Dollars for Levy Campaigns
Item 9.1 introduces a first reading of Policy po6100, ‘Proper Use of Public Funds.’ This policy explicitly forbids using district funds, property, or compensated employee time to support or oppose a political candidate, levy, or bond issue. It also bans contract provisions that tie employee pay to the passage of a levy.
How to Lock It In
SECURE THE WIN: Email Superintendent Richard Stranges at rstranges@mybvls.org and the Board to praise the introduction of Policy po6100. ‘Thank you for introducing Policy po6100. Taxpayers expect fiscal neutrality, and this policy ensures our resources are used for education, not electioneering.’
✅ Why It Matters: Taxpayer Protection
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