The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Robert H. Whitney Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Mr. Keith Stoner, 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, Ms. Lore’ Whitney ----5
VISITORS / COMMUNICATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
Mr. Stoner welcomed visitors to the meeting and asked if any visitors would like to be recognized.
Special Education Administrative Report:
Special Education Director, Julie Borchers, provided the Board with an update of special education throughout the District and thanked the Board for their continued support. The Board was provided an update on the following:
• Assistant Special Education Director Rick Stephens
• Provided coaching to new Intervention Specialists;
• Provided administrative support to the department;
• Coordinated all of the transition IEP meetings to Pioneer.
• Pre-School Director Meredith Cotterill
• Began developing continued partnership relationships with area private pre-schools;
• Assisted with ensuring special education compliance;
• Coordinated meetings and family activities with Western for a smooth Kindergarten transition.
• Total Special Education Students
• 432 Total;
• 85 Initial Evaluations;
• 15 Exited Services;
• Provided a breakdown of largest disability categories.
• 2-Day Onboarding Offering to New Intervention Specialists
• Additional Positive News
• No State compliance errors this school year;
• Decrease in the number of MDR meetings and student suspensions.
The Board thanked Ms. Borchers for her update and all of her hard work supporting our special education students.
Central and Western Elementary Administrative Report
Elementary Principal Scott Curtis provided the Board with an update on the school year highlights at Central and Western Elementary Schools. The Board was provided with an update on the following:
• Building Alignment
• Noted that all day kindergarten has provided the gift of time and that students and staff have been fantastic;
• Grade level teams are working together and getting to know one another as a team.
• Building Activities and Events
• Integrated park day with ALL Lex kids among Pre-K, Western, and Central;
• Ice cream social with PTO;
• Artist visit with Michael Albert where kids were able to “make and take” artwork.
• MTSS and IAT
• Intervening with students who have academic and non-academic needs;
• Supporting students with ongoing intervention support.
• PBIS Teams
• District aligning work and practices for PBIS;
• Reward parties where more than 90% of students were able to participate;
• Central, Western and Eastern alignment around Respectful, Responsible and Ready in all settings.
• State Report Card
• Overall rating of 5 Stars for both Central and Western
• Pre-K family visits to Western on Fridays in March to assist students and families with the transition from Pre-K to Kindergarten.
The Board thanked Ms. Curtis for his continued leadership at both Central and Western.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
33-24 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Ms. Whitney to approve the following financial items:
1. The minutes from the May meeting were approved.
2. The monthly financial report for May 2024 was presented.
3. Approved temporary appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025 at the fund level set at 50% of Fiscal Year 2024 final appropriations.
4. Approved the renewal of property, fleet, and liability insurance with the Ohio School Plan for the period July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024, cost $95,107.
5. Approved cyber insurance coverage with Lloyd’s Cyber for the period July 1, 2024 to June, 2025, cost $7,405.
6. Approved NEOnet invoices in the amount of $13,700 for EMIS Shared Services Agreement and $4,178.10 for FY24 Special Services Software.
7. Approved the following appropriation modifications for FY24:
001 General Fund $2,000,000.00
003 Permanent Improvement $22,032.02
006 Food Service $85,000.00
022 OHSAA Tournament $200.00
018 Public School Support $22,678.18
019 Local Grants $1,084.00
200 Student Services $8,581.50
300 District Managed Activities $36,500.00 451 Network Connectivity $987.65
499 State Grants $10,087.58
507-9024 ARP Homeless $16,295.00
516 IDEA-B ($905.86)
572 Title I $11,340.79
584 Title IV $3,052.44
587 ESCE ($7,182.05)
590 Title II-A $10,536.23
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Ms. Whitney, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner ----5 Nay: None ----0
Motion adopted.
PERSONNEL
34-24 Motion by Dr. Gottschling, seconded by Mr. Roberts to approve the following personnel items:
Certified:
Resignations: Accepted the following resignations effective at the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year:
Dan Wittmer - High School Science
Chris Kmetz - Title I, Western
Sara Thorburn - High School English Emily Patterson - High School English
Maternity Leave: Approved Samantha Keaney’s request for maternity leave from August 19 – September 9, 2024.
Employment: Approved the employment of the following for the 2024-2025 school year:
Ali Webb - Long-term sub, High School Intervention Specialist from the beginning of the 2024-2025 school year until approximately September 9, 2024
Lexus Lang - Intervention Specialist, Western, effective August 15, 2024, one-year contract
Julia Hartage - Intervention Specialist, Western, effective August 15, 2024, one-year contract
Mattie Boyd - Spanish teacher, High School, effective August 15, 2024, one-year contract
Amy Studer - Kindergarten, Western, effective August 15, 2024, one-year contract
Grayson Murray - High School English, effective August 15, 2024, one-year contract
Approved the following for working STEAM camp, July 29-August 9, 2024, ($1,200 total for both weeks):
Gretchen Winner
Jaime Chambers
Ashley Smith
Jessica Duffey
Amanda Jones
Sarah Beck
Liberty Baker-Seebach
Christine Elder
Michelle Rastetter
Laura Pfeiffer
Heather Noland
Lydia Severns
Katelynn Reis
Lindsay Musille
Cara Pelphrey
Christy Anthony
Erika Bauer
Bruce Dewey
Greta Gadfield
Kevin Richer
Jessica Reasor
Mark Hoover
Julie Lamp
Mary Haas
Cheryl Young
Amy Richwine
Karie Whitaker
Mike Schwechheimer
Stephanie Blackstone
Rhonda Tittle
Rachel Smith
Cassidy Dillon
Sandy LaLiberte
Jennifer Hooper
Janie Zeger
Joy Bowman
Lindsay Them
Melanie Walker
Annette Rush
Bethany Sharrock
Ellissa Anderson
Marsha Haas
Christina Mueller
Shannon Nicol
Approved the following staff for Extended School Year summer hours, $25.00 per hour:
Cailyn Kennedy
Sarah Beck
Sonja Clever
Jaime Chambers
Nancy Schurig
Noelle Dudgeon
Jennifer Morris
Nikole Ringer
Sarah (Allison) Brown
Jennifer Verspoor
Lydia Severns
Bruce Dewey
Salary Adjustments: Approved a salary adjustment for the following:
Constance Jamieson - MA + 20 to MA + 30
Denise Benson - MS + 30 to MS + 40
Classified:
Resignation: Accepted the following resignations:
Scott Potter - Maintenance tech, effective July 31, 2024
Brett Wirick - Transportation, bus aide, effective at end of the 2023-2024 school year
Employment: Approved the employment of the following:
Scott Potter - Building and Grounds Supervisor, effective August 1, 2024
Mike Traxler - 4-hour bus driver, effective August 15, 2024, one-year contract
Norman Nichols - Bus driver sub, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements
Scott Hamilton - Transportation, 2-hour van driver, Monday – Thursday, effective August 15, 2024, one-year contract
Ellissa Anderson - Educational aide, Eastern, effective August 15, 2024, one-year contract
Linda Volz - Board Office secretary, one-year contract (retire/rehire)
OTHER BUSINESS:
Coaching Recommendations: Approved the following coaches for the 2024-2025 fall season:
Gavin George - JV boys’ soccer
Matti Boyd - Volunteer assistant boys’ & girls’ cross country
Administrator’s Contracts: Approved the following administrators for a 3-year contract:
Stacy Davis - Eastern Assistant Principal/Dean of Students
Taylor Gerhardt - Junior High Principal
Michael Grist - Eastern Principal
Andrew Saris - High School Dean of Students
John Watkins - Junior High Assistant Principal/Dean of Students
Johneen Gordon - Transportation Director
Ray Cunningham - Assistant Transportation Director/Head Mechanic
Substitute Teacher Resolution: Approved a resolution establishing educational requirements for substitute teachers for the 2024-2025 school year and each year thereafter.
Substitute Pay Schedule: Approved the 2024-2025 substitute pay schedule:
Substitute Teacher $100.00 per day Effective 02/18/21
Long Term Substitute Teacher $110.00 per day (day 21-59) BS Step 0 on day 60+
Substitute Aide $13.35 per hour Step 0 of Salary Schedule (includes Long Term) Effective 24/25 SY
Substitute Secretary $17.80 per hour Step 0 of Salary Schedule (includes Long Term) Effective 24/25 SY
Substitute Bus Driver $18.10 per hour Step 0 of Salary Schedule Effective 24/25 SY
Substitute Custodian $16.12 per hour Step 0 of Salary Schedule Effective 24/25 SY
Substitute Maintenance/Mechanics $18.21 per hour Step 0 of Salary Schedule Effective 24/25 SY
Substitute Cafeteria worker Minimum Wage $10.45/Hour Effective 01/01/24
Long Term Café Helper $12.962
Academic Mentor $20.00/hour
Committee Service Work $15.00/hour
Academic ESY $25.00/hour
Bus Washer $10.45/hour, Effective 01/01/24
Bus Garage Cleaning $18.10/hour, Effective 24/25 SY
Field Trip Rate $16.00/hour, Effective 09/01/22
Transportation Office Help $10.45/hour, Effective 01/01/24
Class Coverage BS Step 0 per diem class period rate $30.11, Effective 24/25 SY
Summer/Student Help $12.00/hour, Effective 05/20/2023
Athletic Office Assistant $15.00/hour Renhill Aide/Mentor $15.00/hour, Effective 08/2023
Administrator/Supervisor/Non-Union Salary Schedules: Approved the 2024-2025 Administrator/Spervisor/Non-Union Salary Schedules.
Allerton Hill: Approved the contract with Allerton Hill Consulting Services, effective July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025.
MOESC Contracts: Approved the FY’24 845 contract with MOESC.
Building Handbooks: Approved the Pre-K, Junior High and High School handbooks for the 2024-2025 school year
Roll Call – Yea: Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Schuster, Ms. Whitney, Mr. Stoner ----5 Nay: None ----0
Motion adopted.
DISCUSSION:
1. Retire/Rehire for Suzy McBride, High School Special Education teacher EXECUTIVE SESSION
35-24 Motion by Ms. Whitney, seconded by Mr. Roberts, to enter into executive session consider the appointment and employment or official, preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.
Roll Call – Yea: Ms. Whitney, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Stoner ----5 Nay: None ----0
Time entered: 7:48 p.m.
Returned to regular session: 8:22 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
36-24 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Dr. Gottschling to adjourn. 8:22 p.m.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Schuster, Ms. Whitney, Mr. Stoner ----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 __________________________
