The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Robert H. Whitney Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. Mr. Robert Whitney, President, called the meeting to order. Roll was called by the Treasurer.
Roll Call – Members present: Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Dave Roberts, Mr. Rob Schuster, Mr. Keith Stoner, 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, Jacob Halfhill, provided the Board with an update regarding various activities throughout the District, including athletics, clubs, other student activities, and important upcoming dates.
Central Office Classified Report
Assistant Superintendent, Kevin Young, provided the Board with an update regarding the various departments throughout the District, including the following:
Food Service Department
• Remains in good financial condition due, in part, to new building and state of the art kitchen;
• Menu options have increased as have sales; • New wood-fired pizza oven is a hit;
• We have hired two (2) full-time staff and built a solid substitute list;
Transportation Department
• Purchased three (3) new gas buses that have been added to the fleet and two (2) coming in at the beginning of next fiscal year;
• We are working to level the former dirt pile to grade the area into a parking lot for additional parking during sporting events.
• Buses are at full capacity so we are seeing more bus riders this year than we have seen since pre-pandemic;
• All bus inspections have come back positively. Ray and Dustin have worked very hard to get the fleet into top-notch shape; • Our drivers continue to do an amazing job for us getting our students to and from school safely each day. They are appreciated.
• Johneen Gordon has done a tremendous job as Transportation Director and she, along with Ray Cunningham, have formed a great team atmosphere in the transportation department. We are proud of the work they have done.
Maintenance and Custodial Department
• The team continues to work on buildings and grounds; • Boilers have been a focal point the last few weeks and they are up and running to keep everyone warm;
• Mr. Young continues to meet daily with Craig Clever and his staff to collaborate on the list of projects that need to be completed. Craig and his team have worked extremely hard to get us ready for the start of the school year. We are extremely proud and thankful for the work they have put in this summer and fall.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
47-23 Motion by Mr. Stoner seconded by Mr. Schuster to approve the following financial items:
1. The minutes from the September regular meeting was approved
2. The monthly financial report for September 2023 was presented.
3. Approved the Resolution of Necessity for Renewal of Emergency Levy for election to be held on March 19, 2024.
4. Approved invoice in the amount of $34,158.72, including an E-Rate discount of $22,283.28 to Heartland Council of Government (NEOnet/NCOCC) for the District annual internet services.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Stoner, Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Whitney ----5 Nay: None ----0
Motion adopted.
PERSONNEL
48-23 Motion by Mr. Stoner, seconded by Dr. Gottschling, to approve the following personnel items:
Certified:
Employment: Approved Erica Bauer as a long-term sub at Central, $110.00 per day effective September 18 – October 20, 2023.
Approved payment to the following for mentoring teachers during the 2023-2024 school year:
MENTOR YEAR TEACHER AMOUNT
Michelle Shaffer Year 2 Dairia Edmunds $250.00
Jackie Rhodes Year 1 Cailyn Kennedy $350.00
Trisha Kist Year 1 Michelle McDonald $350.00
Shelly Knapp Year 1 Zoe McGowan $350.00
Rachel Smith Year 2 Elisabeth Wells $250.00
Stephanie Blackstone Year 1 Amanda Agler $350.00
Jaime Chambers Year 2 Lindsay Musille $250.00
Janelle Wyant Year 2 Kevin Richer $250.00
Steve Domka Year 3 Lana Hill $250.00
Jacob Poiner Year 1 Sophia Marshall $350.00
Salary Adjustments: Approved the following for salary adjustments:
Michelle Smith - ME + 10 to ME + 20
Lydia Severns - BA to BA + 10
OTHER BUSINESS:
Parent Volunteers: Approved the following as parent volunteers for the 2023-2024 school year:
Suzanne Fackleman - Central
Kerri Hittinger - Central & Western
Stacy Hetler - Central (pending successful background check)
Angela Brown - Central (pending successful background check)
Charlotte Davis - Central
Karli Smith - Central
Brooke Hewlett - Western & Central
Megan Knapp - Eastern
Kelly Andress - Eastern
Melanie Erlanbach - Central (pending successful background check)
Nichole Babb - Western
Board Policy Updates: Approved the revised Board policies:
Sample Resolution to Make Provisional Changes to Board Policies and Administrative Guidelines & Forms to Comply with HB 33 0141.2 – Conflict of Interest
2623.02 – Third Grade Reading Guarantee
3120.08 – Employment of Personnel for Co-Curricular/Extra-Curricular Activities
4120.08 – Employment of Personnel for Co-Curricular/Extra-Curricular Activities
5113.01 – Intra-District Open Enrollment
5330.05 – Procurement and Use of Naloxone (Narcan) in Emergency Situations
5320 – Immunization
5330 – Use of Medications
5337 – Care of Students with Active Seizure Disorders
6240 – Board of Revision Complaints and Countercomplaints
6700 – Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
7440 – Facility Security
8120 – Volunteers
8210 – School Calendar
8330 – Student Records
8600 – Transportation
8650 – Transportation by School Van
9160 – Public Attendance at School Events 9211 – District Support Organizations
9270 – Equivalent Education Outside the Schools & Participation in Extra-Curricular for Students Not Enrolled in the District
8800 – Religious/Patriotic Ceremonies and Observances
Tuition Student: Approved Liam Hison as a new tuition student, grade 2, tuition waived per Board policy following working parent.
Substitute List: Approved the revised Lexington substitute list dated September 27, 2023 as presented by MOESC.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Stoner, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Whitney ----5 Nay: None ----0
Motion adopted.
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYMENT
49-23 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Dr. Gottschling, to approve the employment of the following substitute educational aides:
Virginia Jordan - Pre-School only
Hannah Whitney (effective October 12, 2023)
Cameron Todd
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Stoner ----3 Nay: None ----0 Abstain: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Whitney ----2
Motion adopted.
Discussion
1. November Board Meeting – Due to scheduling conflicts, the November Board meeting was rescheduled from November 15th to November 9th.
ADJOURNMENT
50-23 Motion by Mr. Stoner, seconded by Mr. Schuster to adjourn. 7:27 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 day’s instruction was or is scheduled for the current fiscal year.
Treasurer_______________________________ President_______________________________ Superintendent ________________________
