The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Eastern Elementary Music room on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.
Mr. Keith Stoner, Vice-President, called the meeting to order. Roll was called by the Treasurer.
Roll Call – Members present: Mr. Rob Schuster, Mr. Dave Roberts, Mr. Keith Stoner ---3 Absent: Mr. Whitney, Dr. Gottschling ---2
VISITORS / COMMUNICATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
Mr. Stoner welcomed visitors to the meeting and asked if any visitors would like to be recognized. Mr. Secrist shared a thank you note from former Lexington student Chris Carpenter for removal of a compass tile installed at the old high school building. Mr.
Secrist also shared with the Board time capsule information that had been located and will be opened next year.
Student Representative Report
Student Representative, Chloe Dean, provided the Board with an update regarding various activities throughout the District, including athletics, clubs and other student activities.
Admin Update – Central Office
Mr. Secrist provided the Board with an update on the Central Office and Administrative team, noting that the past two years have been unprecedented. Mr. Secrist introduced members of the Administrative team in attendance at the meeting and highlighted the work that has been done over the past two years to meet students needs through impacts of COVID, budget cuts, government restrictions and mandates, and other decisions and circumstances that have never been faced before.
Mr. Secrist shared his appreciation for the team as they came together to collaborate and communicate in a cooperative way to meet the needs of our students while remaining in-person through the majority of COVID. Mr. Secrist also highlighted relationships with other districts and Pioneer, ongoing conversations with local businesses and local colleges to explore career and college, social media and communications through Allerton Hill, recently conducted special education audit, the District Wellness Program, the work of our SRO Officer Glennon and the relationship with Lex PD, examination of LPDC and IPDP software, and curriculum alignment.
Mr. Young provided the Board with an update regarding District transportation, including the additions of Johneen Gordon (Transportation Supervisor) and Ray Cunningham (Assistant Transportation Supervisor / Head Mechanic) and their strong communication with other administrators.
Mr. Young also highlighted the work the transportation department has done with restructured routes for better efficiency, addition of new drivers and aides, and rewriting the handbook and discipline procedures. Mr. Young also noted the collaboration and work by the entire administrative team to reach the best possible decisions as a group to meet the needs of District students.
Regarding technology, Mr. Secrist noted that the District is now completely 1:1 with student Chromebooks and have added a tech assistant to the department along with student workers in the summer and a student worker during the school year. Finally, Mr. Secrist shared with the Board that the admin team is undergoing professional development to examine our District focus, communications, leadership teams at District and building levels, and the use of data to drive our actions of support for staff and students. Mr. Secrist noted there is a shift in education overall and our District to the use of data and open communication leading to group consensus and decision making. Mr. Secrist shared with the Board the goal established by the Administrative team, The District will utilize various forms of available data to drive instruction, identify gaps, and improve student outcomes.
Junior High Principal Taylor Gerhardt shared that he’s been in administration for 20+ years and the past 2-3 years have been unlike anything brought to the District in the past. He noted that collective decision making can be difficult at times, especially during these times, but shared his appreciation for the incredible leadership and support from the Board. High School Principal Jamie Masi also echoed the appreciation of the leadership provided by Mr. Secrist and Mr. Young and the support from the Board to meet the needs of District students during these past few years of unprecedented times.
Public Communication
Visitors in attendance expressed concern regarding 1:1 aides hired through Renhill by the District and the related compensation of these aides, noting that unfilled vacancies are causing issues with the education of their children. Mr. Stoner thanked the visitors for bringing the information to the Board’s attention and noted that ongoing communication continues to address all student needs and to address any staffing needs.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
53-22 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Schuster to approve the following financial items: 1. The minutes from the September meeting were approved.
2. The monthly financial report for September 2022 was presented.
3. Accepted a donation rom Lexington PTO in the amount of $1,000 each for Central, Eastern and Western.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Stoner ----3 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Mr. Whitney, Dr. Gottschling ----2
Motion adopted.
Agenda Item #5
Mr. Whitesel made special note of the donation and support from the Lexington PTO considering the amount of time and energy they put into supporting our students and staff. Mr. Stoner recognized any Lexington PTO in attendance at the meeting and thanked them for their continued support. The next PTO meeting was noted as scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th at 6:30 p.m. at Central Elementary.
PERSONNEL
54-22 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Mr. Roberts to approve the following personnel items: Certified:
Retirements: Accepted the following retirements:
Tracy Andrews - Western, Special Ed., effective June 9, 2023
Jacki Gaither - Western, 1st grade, effective September 1, 2023
Melissa Hassmann - Elementary music, effective September 1, 2023
Julie Frye - High School French, effective at the end of the 2022-2023 school year
Dave Kaple - High School Social Studies, effective at the end of the 2022-2023 school year
Salary Adjustment:
Approved Bruce Dewey’s salary adjustment from BS to BS + 10.
Employment: Approved the following for employment:
Jennifer Law - Jr. High Academic Challenge co-advisor
Rosalie ‘Kathy’ Gesing - Long-term sub, high school English, from approximately October 14, 2022 through January 20, 2023, $110 per day
Cheryl Young - Substitute teacher, effective October 11, 2022
Julia Pilla - Western IAT chairperson
Alex Nees - Substitute teacher, effective October 10, 2022
Lisa Cramer - Substitute teacher, effective October 27, 2022
Classified:
Leave of Absence: Accepted Christy Anthony’s request for a leave of absence to do her student teaching, from February 20, 2023 – May 20, 2023.
Resignations: Accepted the following resignations:
Cicelyann Shears - Food Service, effective September 23, 2022
Amy Tallman - Food Service, two-hour, effective October 17, 2022
Shelly Harris - Food Service, two-hour, effective October 17, 2022
Employment: Approved the following for employment:
Lisa Pfizenmayer - Jr. High Academic Challenge co-advisor
Jeffery Shook - Transportation, substitute bus driver
Seth Cole - Food Service sub, effective October 6, 2022
Wanda Boyce - Food Service sub, effective October 3, 2022, long-term sub, effective October 26, 2022
Annescia Hite - Food Service sub, effective September 19, 2022 October 26, 2022, two-general help, one-year contract effective October 27, 2022
Gary Weaver - Food Service sub
Sheila Winters - Food Service sub
Jean Strickland - Food Service sub and educational aide sub
John Calhoun - Substitute custodian, effective October 10, 2022
Amy Tallman - Food Service four-hour general help, effective October 17, 2022
Shelly Harris - Food Service four-hour general help, effective October 17, 2022
OTHER BUSINESS:
Coaching Resignation: Accepted Derrick Shelenberger’s resignation as 7th grade boys’ basketball coach.
Coaching Recommendations: Approved the following coaches for the 2022-2023 school year:
Derrick Shelenberger - Freshman boys’ basketball
Kevin Morrow - 7th grade boys’ basketball
Melisa Watters - High school assistant swim
Jeff Strickler - Varsity baseball
Janelle Wyant - Volunteer assistant swim
Tricia Brown - Volunteer assistant girls’ basketball
Mike Mampieri - Volunteer wrestling coach
Van Driver: Approved Scott Hamilton as a sub van driver, effective September 9, 2022.
Tuition Student: Approved Timothy Boyer as a tuition student for the remainder of the 20222023 school year. Tuition waived per Board policy regarding parent moving out of the district during student’s senior year.
School Nurses: Approved the following as our district nurses for the 2022-2023 school year: Brigit Brown, LPN – High School Sandra Kautz, LPN - Western Lauren Grove, LPN – Junior High Beth Ann Weidenheimer – RN, 1:1 Western Jennifer Sexton, LPN – Eastern Connie Homerick – Sub nurse, LPN Samantha Kessler, LPN – Central Alisa Reinhart – Sub nurse, RN, BSN Substitute Lists: Approved the Lexington sub lists dated September 28, 2022 and October 19, 2022 as provided by MOESC.
Resolution to Accept Resignations: Approved to authorize the Superintendent to accept resignations of employees as needed subject to final Board approval at the next scheduled Board meeting. Such resignations shall be considered effective as of the date and time of the Superintendent’s acceptance.
Board Policy Updates:
Approved the revised policy 41.1 (2280 – PreSchool Program, 2413 Career Advising, 2430 District-Sponsored Clubs and Activities, 2431 Interscholastic Athletics, 3120.08 Employment of Resident/Nonresident Students, 5460.01 Diploma Referral, 6700 Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), 7440 Facility Security, 7440.03 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems, 8210 School Calendar, 8320 Personnel Files, 8330 Student Records, 8600 Transportation.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner ----3 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Whitney ----2
Motion adopted.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
55-22 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Schuster, to enter into executive session to discuss details relative to the security arrangements and emergency response protocols and to review negotiations concerning contract terms and conditions.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Stoner ----3 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Whitney ----2
Time entered: 7:55 p.m.
Returned to regular session: 9:25 p.m.
DISCUSSION
Mr. Young shared with the Board an updated bus loop and parking map for the soccer field parking lot areas as work continues at the new high school entrance.
ADJOURNMENT
56-22 Motion by Mr. Schuster seconded by Mr. Roberts to adjourn. 9:28 p.m.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner ----3 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Whitney -----2
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 ________________________
