The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Western Elementary multi-purpose room on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Mr. Keith Stoner, Vice-President, called the meeting to order. Roll was called by the Treasurer.
Roll Call – Members present: Mr. Rob Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Dave Roberts, Mr. Keith Stoner ----4 Absent: Mr. Whitney ----1
VISITORS / COMMUNICATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
Mr. Stoner welcomed visitors to the meeting and made various publications and mailings available.
Public Comment
Visitor Amy Mutti addressed the Board regarding concerns pertaining to an activity students took part in on February 13th regarding a kachina doll, noting concerns with teaching students vs. having students participate without providing parents a chance to opt out. Mr. Secrist noted that the administration does continue to have communication with staff regarding appropriateness of classroom activities and identification of those activities that warrant parent notification. Mr. Secrist also requested that administration receive contact when such issues arise.
Student Representative Report
High School Principal, Jamie Masi, provided the Board with an update from Student Representative Chloe Dean regarding various activities throughout the District, including athletics, clubs, other student activities, and important upcoming dates.
Admin Update – Western Elementary
Western Principal, Matt Millinger provided the Board with an update of various ongoing activities at Western, including the following:
• Kindergarten – Plant Unit and Science Projects;
• Kindergarten – 100 Day Celebration Activities;
• 1st Grade – Opinion Writing Project;
• 1st Grade – Flashlight Friday;
• 2nd Grade – Pen Pals;
• 2nd Grade – Famous Biographies;
• 3rd Grade – Community Social Studies Unit;
• 3rd Grade – Kleerview Farm Field Trip;
• 3rd Grade – Culture Unit;
• Western Garden Club – Over 70 students participated;
• PBIS – Guest Author Event – Local author Brooke Young attended and signed over 85 books for students.
Mr. Millinger noted the staff and students are having a great year with lots of ongoing activities and thanked the Board for their continued support of the students.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
24-23 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Dr. Gottschling to approve the following financial items:
1. The minutes from the March regular meeting was approved
2. The monthly financial report for March 2023 was presented.
3. Approved continued enrollment in the Sedgwick Ohio School Workers’ Compensation Group Retrospective Program for calendar year 2023; annual fee $3,665 and targeted savings of $12,893.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner ----4 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Mr. Whitney ----1
Motion adopted.
PERSONNEL
25-23 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Mr. Roberts to approve the following personnel items:
Certified:
Resignation: Accepted Carolee Balliett’s resignation as Central’s spelling bee advisor, effective November 30, 2022.
Employment: Approved the following for employment for the 2023-2024 school year, pending successful completion of pre-employment requirements:
Colin Howell - Junior High/High School band teacher, one-year contract, effective August 18, 2023
Sophia Marshall - Elementary music teacher, one-year contract, effective August 18, 2023
Amanda Agler - Elementary Intervention Specialist, one-year contract, effective August 18, 2023
Anitra Trittschuh - First grade teacher, Western, one-year contract, effective August 18, 2023
Bethany Sharrock - Long-term sub, Central, from approximately August 18, 2023 through January 2, 2024, $110.00 per day
Cailyn Kennedy - Intervention Specialist, cross categorical room, Western, one-year contract, effective August 18, 2023
Kelli Catanese - Central, 3rd grade spelling bee advisor, ½ contract
Maternity Leave: Accepted Kelly Durbin’s request for maternity leave from the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year through approximately January 3, 2024.
Non-Renewals: Approved the non-renewal of the following individuals who were employed as long-term substitutes for the 2022-2023 school year:
Theresa Scheurer - Eastern
Ashley Webb - High School
Wanda Boyce - Food Service
Laura Boehm - Sub calling – Western
Classified:
Retirements: Accepted the following retirements: Patty Scott - Food Service, effective at the end of the 2022-2023 school year
Sandra Arnett - Food Service, effective at the end of the 2022-2023 school year
David Bond - Eastern custodian, effective July 1, 2023 Employment: Approved the following for employment:
Jessica Reasor - Substitute educational aide
Gage Potter - Maintenance summer help, effective April 3, - August 31, 2023
Bradley Miller - Maintenance summer help, effective April 10 – August 31, 2023
OTHER BUSINESS:
Coaching Resignation: Accepted Daryl Uhde’s resignation as girls’ varsity basketball coach, effective March 27, 2023.
Supplemental Non-Renewals: Approved the non-renewal of the following coaches due to lack of evaluations for spring sports:
Jeff Strickler - Varsity baseball
Mike Schwechheimer - JV baseball
Todd Galownia - Varsity softball
Patrick O’Connell - JV softball
Michael Moore - Varsity boys’ track
Michelle Smith - Varsity girls’ track
Denise Benson - Assistant track (1/2 contract)
Anne Petrie - Assistant track (1/2 contract)
Grant Weaver - Assistant track
Dan Wittmer - Assistant track (1/3 contract)
Jennifer Wells - Assistant track
Kayla Truax - Junior High track
Lisa Pfizenmayer - Junior High track
Buck Morton - Junior High track
Heidi Roush - Junior High track
Supplemental Non-Renewals: Approved the non-renewals of coaches who hold supplemental contracts, but are not employees of the district:
Zack Collins - Assistant football
Alex Nees - Assistant football
Alec Keen - Assistant football
Ryan Oliver - Assistant football (resigned for 23-24)
Herbert Harkness - Junior High football
Greg Smith - Varsity boys’ golf (resigned for 23-24)
Brock Kehres - JV boys’ golf (resigned for 23-24)
Pete Them - Varsity boys’ soccer, Freshman soccer (1/2)
Jay Porter - JV boys’ soccer, Freshman soccer (1/2)
Jansen Webster - Girls’ tennis (60%)
Hayleigh Tucker - Girls’ tennis (40%)
Ron Schaub - Boys’ tennis
Seth Cole - JV boys’ cross country
- Junior High wrestling
- Assistant track
Ralph Baker - Junior High cross country
Teresa Alt - Junior High cross country (1/2)
Stephanie Campbell - Junior High cross country (1/2)
Sami Marcum - 7th grade volleyball
Maddie Hernstein - 8th grade volleyball
Pam Leasure - Varsity/JV cheerleading
Holli-Ann Anschutz - Freshman cheerleading
Crystal Harris - Junior High cheerleading
Scott Hamilton - Varsity boys’ basketball
Derrick Shelenberger - Freshmen boys’ basketball
Daryl Uhde - Varsity girls’ basketball (resigned for 23-24)
Gabby Stover - JV girls’ basketball
Jay Schmidt - 7th grade girls’ basketball
Brock Spurling - Varsity swim
Rob Roth - Assistant swim (diving)
Melisa Watters - Assistant Varsity swim
- Junior High swim
Libby Nickoli - Junior High swimming
Jonathan Watkins - Junior High wrestling
Roger Long - Varsity bowling
Nathan Fisher - Freshman baseball
Julia Jungeberg - Track assistant
Tuition Students: Approved the following kindergarten tuition students for the 2023-2024 school year, tuition waived per Board policy following working parents:
Malachi Stilson
Wyatt Fraizer
Richland Area Chamber: Approved continued membership in the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development for the period May 2023 through April 2024 at a cost of $275.
Bus Bids: Approved resolution to authorize the Treasurer and transportation department to Obtain bid pricing through META Solutions cooperative purchasing for two new buses per recommendation and specifics from the transportation department.
Athletic/Music Boosters: Approved payments to the Athletic Boosters and Music Boosters in the amount of $14,975 each from auction proceeds to offset costs associated with District projects taken on by each group for Lexington Students.
Substitute List: Approved the revised Lexington substitute lists dated March 15, 2023, as presented by MOESC.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Stoner ----4 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Mr. Whitney ----1
Motion adopted.
Discussion:
School Calendar – Mr. Secrist asked the Board to consider modification to the 2022-2023 school calendar to make the last day of school June 5th for students. Mr. Secrist noted the District was lucky with needed calamity days this year due to weather, and this will allow for staff to complete necessary work to conclude the current year and prepare for changes related to next school year.
Scheduled days for staff for the end of the school year will remain unchanged.
SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGE
26-23 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Dr. Gottschling to modify the school calendar and revise the last dayof school for the 22-23 school year to Monday, June 5, 2023.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner ----4 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Mr. Whitney ----1
Motion adopted.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
27-23 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Mr. Roberts, to enter into executive session consider the appointment, employment, promotion, or compensation of a public employee or official.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Stoner ----4 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Mr. Whitney ----1
Motion adopted.
Time entered: 7:55 p.m.
Returned to regular session: 8:41 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
28-23 Motion by Mr. Schuster seconded by Dr. Gottschling to adjourn. 8:42 p.m.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, 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 __________________________