LEXINGTON BOARD OF EDUCATION

Regular Meeting

December 16, 2020

7:00 p.m.

The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Robert H. Whitney Board of Education Meeting Room at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.  Mr. Robert Whitney, President, called the meeting to order. Roll was called by the Treasurer.

Roll Call – Members present: Mr. Keith Stoner, Dr. Martin Gottsdchling, Mr. Dave Roberts, Mr. Rob Schuster, Mr. Robert Whitney ----5

           VISITORS / COMMUNICATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

Mr. Whitney welcomed vistiors to the meeting and asked if any visitors would like to be recognized.

Visitors Nikki Ruhl and Jacqueline Sheridan were recognized to provide public comment.

 Financial Items:

 64-20 Motion by Mr. Stoner, seconded by Mr. Schuster to approve the following finanacial items:

1.  The minutes from the November regular meeting were approved.

2.  The monthly financial report for November 2020 was presented.

3. Approved the 2021 insurance funding rates representing a 0% change from 2020 funding rates.

Roll Call – Yea:   Mr. Stoner, Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whitney--------5

    Nay:  None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------0

    Motion Adopted.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

65-20 Motion by Dr. Gottschling, seconded by Mr. Schuster, to enter into executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual unless the public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual requests a public hearing and negotiations.

Roll Call – Yea:   Mr. Stoner, Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whitney ----5

    Nay:  None ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0

                   Motion adopted

Time entered: 7:24 p.m.

Returned to regular sesson: 7:40 p.m.

PERSONNEL

66-20 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Mr. Roberts to approve the following personnel items:

Certified:

Employment: Approved the employment of the following:

Mike Kathrein - High School yearbook advisor for the 2021-2022 school year

Mikela Champman - Long-term sub, Junior High November 16, 2020 - January 19, 2021, $110.00 per day

Cheryl Longnecker - Special Education/Psychologist Assistant to perform academic testing at a rate of $25 per hour for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year

Salary Adjustment: Approved the salary adjustment for:

Michelle Olecki - ME to ME + 10

Jonathan Davis - BS +20 to ME

Classified:

Retirement: Accepted Barb Ramey's retirement from Transportation Department effective January 31, 2021.

Employment: Approved the employment of Ashley Whiting, Transportation, bus driver, effective November 24, 2020.

 OTHER BUSINESS:

Technology Department: Approved Kayla Lynsky as Technology Assistant, as needed, not to exceed 20 hours per week, effective November 30, 2020 - January 20, 2021, $9.00 per hour.

Coaching Resignation:  Accepted Tim Scheid's resignation as Varsity football coach, effective November 23, 2020.

Coaching Recommendation: Approved Taylor Gerhardt as head varsity football coach, effective December 17, 2020.

Substitute List: Approved the revised Lexington substitute list dated 11/18/2020 as presented by MOESC.

2021 Board Meeting: The Organizational and Regular January 2021 Board of Education meetings were set for January 13, 2021 at 7:00 p.m.

OSBA: Approval to join OSBA for the 2021 calendar year.

GMP Resolution: Approved the Resolution Approving Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment 02 for Lexington New 7-12 School and Authorizing Superintendent and Treasurer to Sign Guaranteed Maximum Price Amendment.

Resolution: Approved the following Resolution:

                        Whereas, on November 22, 2020 Governor DeWine signed Ohio House Bill 404, which

            extends the previously passed public meeting exceptions in Ohio House Bill 197 through July

            1, 2021; and

                        Whereas, pursuant to Ohio House Bill 404 members of a public body may hold, attend,

            and participate in meetings by means of teleconference, video conference, or any other similar

            electronic technology.

                        Now, therefore, be it resolved:

                        That the Board of Education formally adopts the provisions of Section 12 of H.B. 404 as

            emergency policies of this Board for the effective period; and

                        That such emergency policies shall supersede current and conflicting Board Policies

            during the effective period; and

                        That all formal action of this Board of Education concerning or related to the adoption of

            this Resolution was adopted in an open meeting of this Board, and all deliberations of this Board

            that resulted in such formal action were adopted in meeting open to the public, in compliance

            with all applicable requirements of Ohio law.

                        Upon the roll call the vote was as follows:

                                                                                    AYE                NAY

                        Robert Whitney                                       X

                        Keith Stoner                                            X

                        Martin Gottschling                                  X

                        Dave Roberts                                          X

                        Rob Schuster                                           X

     

Roll Call – Yea:   Mr. Stoner, Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whitney ----5

           Nay:  None ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0

                Motion adopted

Discussion:

1. Graduation 2021 - High School Principal Kevin Young shared with the Board an idea to move the 2021 graduation to Friday night, May 28th, at the football stadium to be held under the lights. The rain date would be Sunday, May 30th. The Board was supportive of the idea and asked Mr. Young to look into logistics to perform graduation 2021 under the lights at the football stadium. 

Public Comment

Mr. Whitney recognized visitor Nikki Ruhl for public comment. Ms. Ruhl thanked the Boards, administration and staff for assisting her son through remote learning. She also shared her appreciation for the Board and the difficult work and decisions they are tasked with performing. She asked that everyone check in with their feelings during these difficult times to ensure that everyone is treated with respect. She shared that the teachers and support staff are a precious commodity and the District should fight for strong working relationships and to create a solution to the current situation. She shared her fear of losing good teachers and aides is more than her fear of the pandemic. Mr. Whitney shared that everyone involved in the negotiation process views our staff as professionals, and whie it would be inappropriate to comment on specifics of negotiations, everyone is working hard to come to an appropriate resolution.

Mr. Whitney recognized visitor Jacqueline Sheridan who shared that the needs of her son are such that her son cannot come to school without the support staff that Lexington has. She noted that Lexington has helped her son a great deal and that she is in a position that she must trust that the individuals with her son are going to properly protect him while she's not able to be with him. Ms. Sheridan shared her gratitude for the support staff of Lexington.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

67-20 Motion by Mr. Stoner,  seconded by Mr. Roberts, to enter into executive session to consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official, or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual unless the public employee, official, licensee or regulated individual requests a public hearing and negotiations.

Roll Call – Yea:   Mr. Stoner, Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whitney ----5

    Nay:  None ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0

                   Motion adopted

Time entered: 8:15 p.m.

Returned to regular sesson: 9:32 p.m.

Discussion:

1. CDC Guidelines - The Board discussed the recent updates to the CDC guidelines. Mr. Secrist will follow up with legal counsel regarding any potential impact of these CDC guidelines on the District.    

ADJOURNMENT

68-20 Motion by Mr. Stoner, seconded by Mr. Schuster, to adjourn.           9:33 p.m.  

Roll Call – Yea:   Mr. Stoner, Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whitney ----5

    Nay:  None ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------0

                  Motion adopted

Certificate Section 5705.412, Ohio Revised Code

It is hereby certified that the Lexington Local School District Board of Education, Richland County, Ohio, has sufficient funds to meet the contract agreement, obligation, payment or expenditure for the above, and has in effect for the remainder of the fiscal year and succeeding fiscal year the authorization to levy taxes which, when combined with the estimated revenue from all other sources available to the district at the time of certification, are sufficient to provide operating revenues necessary to enable the district to operate an adequate educational program on all days set forth in its adopted school calendar for the current fiscal year and for a number of days in the succeeding fiscal year equal to the number of days instruction was or is scheduled for the current fiscal year.                                                                               

Treasurer_________________________________

                                                                                               President_________________________________

Superintendent ____________________________