The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Lexington High School auditorium on Wednesday, December 15, 2021. Mr. Robert Whitney, President, called the meeting to order.
Roll was called by the Treasurer.
Roll Call – Members present: Dr. Martin Gottschling, Mr. Dave Roberts, Mr. Keith Stoner, Mr. Rob Schuster, - Mr. Robert Whitney ----- 5
VISITORS / COMMUNICATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
Mr. Whitney welcomed visitors to the meeting and asked if any visitors would like to be recognized.
Student Representative Report
Student Representative Evan Matney provided the Board with an update regarding various activities throughout the District, including the following: Clubs and Student Activities
• LEO Club – LEO Club partnered with Macy’s at the Polaris mall for their Make A Wish campaign. During National Believe Week, every building in the District participated in this event for the Make A Wish Foundation. As a District, we collected 669 letters to Santa, and within those letters, we had 100 letters written in Spanish.
Our 669 letters made a total contribution of $1,228 to the Macy’s Believe Campaign for Make A Wish. LEO Club is already planning for next year’s National Believe Week and Macy’s partnership. On December 10th, LEO Club assisted Crossroads Christmas program providing Christmas gifts to over 1,000 children. LEO Club is also making stockings to send home with lunches for 26 students at Western Elementary.
• French Club and Spanish Club – French Club and Spanish Club will host their annual holiday party highlighting Christmas and New Year’s celebrations in Spain and France on December 16th in the library.
• Key Club – Key Club recently helped the Lexington Kiwanis Club with Breakfast with Santa. In total, there were nearly 40 members who volunteered their time to make the event a success. Key Club also recently wrapped up a fundraiser where 98 items were sold and a profit of $520 was earned. They are excited to put that to good use for the Club and our community.
• Student Council – Student Council helped to create portions of the Holiday Assembly and are currently planning Mental Health Activities for the Spring and ‘Where is the Love’ themed February. They are also planning PowderPuff in the Spring and a Senior Farewell.
• Prom Committee – The Prom Committee will begin meeting to set the theme and to begin sorting through supplies in the store room that they would like to transfer to the new building. Regular meetings will begin in late January.
Athletics
• Boys’ Basketball - The boys’ basketball team got off to a 5-0 start to begin the year. They are also 2-0 in league play and just had a huge double overtime win Saturday at New Philadelphia.
• Girls’ Basketball – The girls’ basketball team is 1-5 so far this year.
• Swim & Dive - Our boys and girls swim and dive teams are off to a great start. They have held the Friendly House Invitational, competed in a number of dual swim meets against Mansfield Sr., Colonel Crawford, and Perkins, which they were victorious. This weekend the team will be headed to Bowling Green for the very large DHL Classic.
• Bowling – Our Bowling teams are also having a ton of success. The boys’ team won the Muskingum Hall of Fame Invitational in Canton this past weekend. They defeated both Massillon Perry and Mentor in the semi-finals and finals to take the title in the 24 team field.
Athlete Recognition
Athletic Director Jeff Eichorn addressed the Board and presented those fall teams and athletes that Qualified for State:
Boys’ Golf
Mr. Eichorn presented Troy C. who qualified for the State Golf Championships after shooting a 75 at the District Championship.
Girls’ Tennis
Coach Ron Schaub presented Gracie P. who qualified for the State Tennis Championships this year making her a 4-time State Qualifier.
Girls’ and Boys’ Cross Country
Coach Denise Benson presented the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams along with Assistant Coaches Anne Petrie and Seth Cole as both teams qualified for the State Cross Country Championships this year. The girls’ team were District and Regional Champions and finished 8th at the State Championships. Emma W. was recognized for finishing 10th in the State individually and earning All Ohio honors and Elyana W. was also recognized for also earning All Ohio honors.
The boys’ team were Distrsict and Regional Champions and finished 10th at the State Championships.
Mr. Eichorn also recognized Coach Benson for earning 2020-2021 Ohio Cross Country Coach of the Year.
Boys’ Soccer
Coach Pete Them presented the boys’ soccer team and introduced members of the team, noting the team finished with a record of 16-2-4 overall and a record of 5-0-1 in the Ohio Cardinal Conference as they earned the Conference Championship. The boys’ soccer team were Sectional, District, and Regional Champions and qualified for the State Semi-Finals this year.
High School / School Resource Office – Admin Update
High School Principal Jamie Masi provided the Board with an update for the high school, noting curriculum and graduation changes that will impact current District 8th graders. Mr. Masi shared various changes in requirements with regard to financial literacy and math, noting staff and administration have been meeting to review course offerings. Mr. Masi also shared with the Board excitement at the high school as we transition into the new building and shape future new opportunities for our students.
Officer Christopher Glennon provided the Board with an SRO update, noting that he has been at each building throughout the District for Emergency Management Training and reviewing Emergency Operations plans. Tornado Drills have also been held at District buildings over the past two days.
Officer Glennon also noted that a tour of the new building is being scheduled to review and ensure safety of all students and staff in the new buildings. Officer Glennon also noted that he has been teaching safety throughout the District as the safety of each of our students is the responsibility of everyone when they enter our buildings.
Public Comment
Visitor Dave Renner addressed the Board and expressed concerns that the Board and administration have not developed a policy regarding the monitoring of District restrooms.
Visitor Mallory Westerheide addressed the Board with concerns regarding the loss of her son’s 1:1 aide and asked the Board to make changes to the current 1:1 aides that would assist in keeping the 1:1 aides so they will not leave for other positions.
Visitor Nikki Ruhl addressed the Board with similar concerns regarding 1:1 aides for the District, noting the classroom aides are District aides while 1:1 aides are positions contracted through Renhill. Ms. Ruhl indicated that 1:1 aides cannot afford to stay without healthcare benefits through the District. Ms. Ruhl also expressed concern that training is limited for the 1:1 aides and should be improved.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
74-21 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Dr. Gottschling to approve the following financial items: 1. The minutes from the November regular meeting and December work session were approved.
2. The monthly financial report for November 2021 was presented.
3. Approved the Message Logix invoice in the amount of $3,625 for K12 Alert Services.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner, Mr. Whitney ---- 5 Nay: None ---- 0 Motion adopted.
PERSONNEL
75-21 Motion by Dr. Gottschling, seconded by Mr. Roberts to approve the following personnel items:
Certified:
Employment: Approved the following staff for employment:
Carla Pasheilich - Academic mentor for a student on homebound instruction, beginning December 6th – end of the
school year, not to exceed 10 hours weekly, $20.00 per hour
Lori Hoyt - Long-term sub at Eastern, from approximately December 10 – February 28, 2022
Classified:
Resignation: Accepted Amanda Addington’s resignation as a two-hour employee in Food Service, effective November 2, 2021.
Employment: Approved the employment of the following:
Abbie Goodman - Educational aide, effective November 23, 2021, contract for the remainder of the 2021-2022
school year
Dustin Horn - Substitute bus driver, effective December 7, 2021
Doug Noblet - Substitute bus driver, effective December 7, 2021
Richard Wuchich - Substitute van driver, effective December 8, 2021
OTHER BUSINESS:
Coaching Recommendations: Approved the following coaches for 2021-2022 winter season:
Mike Moore - Volunteer assistant junior high and high school wrestling
2022 Board Meeting - The Organizational and Regular January 2022 Board of Education meeting was set forWednesday, January 12, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
OSBA: Approved to join OASBA for calendar year 2022.
Substitute List: Approved the revised Lexington substitute list, dated November 18, 2021, as presented by MOESC.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Stoner, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Whitney ---- 5 Nay: None ---- 0 Motion adopted.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
76-21 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Dr. Gottschling 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, 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. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner, Mr. Whitney ---- 5 Nay: None ---- 0 Motion adopted.
Time entered: 8:01 p.m.
Returned to regular session: 8:17 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
77-21 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Mr. Roberts to adjourn. 8:17 p.m.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Stoner, 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 day’s instruction was or is scheduled for the current fiscal year.
Treasurer_________________________________
President__________________________________
Superintendent _____________________________
