The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Robert H. Whitney Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Mr. Keith Stoner, 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, Ms. Lore’ Whitney -----5
VISITORS / COMMUNICATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
Mr. Stoner welcomed visitors to the meeting and asked if any visitors would like to be recognized.
Public Comment
1. Visitors Laurie Frost, Dave Badnell and Marsha Triska addressed the Board and expressed their support for District teacher, Jim Steele, noting that Mr. Steele has had a positive influence on their children and has the best interest of the children that he teaches, coaches, or otherwise interacts with. Each visitor provided examples of how Mr. Steele would never intentionally hurt a student. Ms. Triska also discussed a wet bulb gauge and asked that the Board look into a high heat index protocol to cancel outside activities to avoid District liability and not put this determination on the teachers.
Student Representative Report
Student Representative, Gracie Masi, provided the Board with an update regarding various activities throughout the District, including athletics, clubs, and other student activities, and important upcoming dates.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
48-24 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Ms. Whitney to approve the following financial items: 1. The minutes from the September meeting were approved.
2. The monthly financial report for September 2024 was presented.
3. Approved an invoice in the amount of $9,180 to The Center for Individual & Family Services for deaf interpretive services.
4. Accepted the donation of a Fox 300 Oboe from Nicholas Capaldo valued at approximately $2,775.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Ms. Whitney, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner -----5 Nay: None -----0
Motion adopted.
PERSONNEL
49-24 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Dr. Gottschling to approve the following personnel items:
Certified:
Retirement: Accepted Ryan Zahn’s retirement as High School math teacher, effective at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Resignation: Accepted Julia Pilla’s resignation as Western’s IAT chairperson, effective October 14, 2024.
Salary Adjustments: Approved the following salary adjustments:
Alyssa McCready - ME + 10 to ME + 20
Rachel Carroll - MA + 20 to MA + 30
Gretchen Winner - BA + 20 to MS
Lindsay Musille - BS + 10 to BS + 20
Maternity Leave: Approved Alyssa McCready’s request for maternity leave from approximately March 31, 2025 – May 29, 2025.
Employment: Approved the employment of the following for the 2024-2025 school year:
Rebecca Bigley - Prom advisor & Junior class advisor
Chris Kmetz - Long-term sub for Title I reading effective October 14, 2024
Kelli Catanese - Western, IAT chairperson, effective October 14, 2024
Classified:
Resignation: Accepted the following resignations:
Elizabeth Vallance - High School Student Services secretary, effective November 22, 2024
Eric Homerick - High School custodian, effective October 7, 2024
Employment: Approved the employment of the following for the 2024-2025 school year:
Madison Herrnstein - Educational aide, Western, effective October 14, 2024, one-year contract
Ashley Harwell - Substitute educational aide
Christina Thompson - Substitute educational aide, effective September 20, 2024
Charisma Patterson - Substitute educational aide
Erica Bauer - Substitute educational aide
Norm Nichols - Transportation, bus driver, effective October 7, 2024
Dominic Milano - Transportation, sub driver, effective October 10, 2024
JR Rose - Transportation, sub driver
Lisa McClain - Food Service sub
Susan Meister - Food Service sub
Seth Cole - Food Service sub
Cheryl Rose - Food Service sub
Gary Weaver - Food Service sub
Julie Wallace - Food Service sub
Mike Ziegelhofer - Food Service sub
OTHER BUSINESS:
Coaching Resignation: Accepted Mike Kathrein’s resignation as varsity girls’ golf.
Coaching Recommendation: Approved Todd Galownia as the varsity softball coach.
Tuition Student: Approved Shiloh Perry (grade 4) and Elijah Perry (grade 1) as tuition students, tuition waived per Board policy following a working parent.
Parent Volunteer: Approved the following parent volunteers for Central, and Western pending successful background checks:
Somer Hittinger
Kristen Wendling
Sara Strohminger
Ashley Harwell
Sara Baker
Rebecca Rush
Allison Bates
Jill Gurney
Sara Randall
Jenna Stemple
Kelly Rector
Substitute Lists: Approved the substitute lists as provided by MOESC dated September 20th through October 11, 2024.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Schuster, Ms. Whitney, Mr. Stoner -----5 Nay: None -----0
Motion adopted.
Discussion:
1. Lexington Haunted Hallways – Mr. Stoner shared that Lexington Haunted Hallways is scheduled from 5:30 – 7:00 on October 28th. The Board will have a table to hand out candy as in past years.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
50-24 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Dr. Gottschling, to enter into executive session to consider the appointment, and employment of a public employee 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.
Time entered: 7:25 p.m.
Returned to regular session: 7:51 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
51-24 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Ms. Whitney to adjourn. 7:52 p.m.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Ms. Whitney, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, 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 _________________________
