The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Robert H. Whitney Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. Mr. Keith Stoner, President, called the meeting to order. Roll was called by the Treasurer.
Roll Call – Members present: Mr. Dave Roberts, Mr. Rob Schuster, Mr. Keith Stoner, Ms. Lore’ Whitney ----4 Absent: Dr. Gottschling ----1
VISITORS / COMMUNICATIONS / RECOGNITIONS
Mr. Stoner welcomed visitors to the meeting and asked if any visitors would like to be recognized.
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.
Administrative Report – Curriculum
Curriculum Directors Joy Bowman and Tucker Bacquet addressed the Board and provided an update to the Board regarding District results from the State Report Card. Ms. Bowman and Mr. Bacquet highlighted the following Star Ratings for each building and the District as a whole:
• Eastern – 5 Stars
• Central – 5 Stars
• Western – 3.5 Stars
• High School – 4 Stars
• Junior High – 3.5 Stars
• District – 4 Stars
Ms. Bowman and Mr. Bacquet noted that with the grade level alignment, Western Elementary actually lost certain measures the building was previously measured on or their rating would have been even higher. Steady growth was also noted in the District’s overall Performance Index, and Ms. Bowman and Mr. Bacquet shared that our Performance Index marks are exceeding the Performance Index marks prior to the pandemic.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
52-24 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Schuster to approve the following financial items:
1. The minutes from the October meeting were approved.
2. The monthly financial report for October 2024 was presented.
3. Approved the 5-year Financial Forecast for FY25 through FY29.
4. Accepted a donation in the amount of $350 from the Gorman-Rupp Company for student programs and activities.
5. Accepted a donation in the amount of $400 from West Holmes in support of a Lexington family.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Mr. Schuster, Ms. Whitney, Mr. Stoner ----4 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Dr. Gottschling ----1
Motion adopted.
PERSONNEL
53-24 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Ms. Whitney to approve the following personnel items:
Certified:
Retirement: Accepted Stephanie Jedra’s retirement as 5th grade teacher at Eastern, effective December 31, 2024.
Resignations: Accepted the following resignations:
Julia Hartge - Intervention Specialist at Western, effective November 4, 2024
Aubrey Klink - High School mentor, effective November 13, 2024
Maternity Leave: Approved Noelle Dudgeon’s request for maternity leave from approximately January 6, 2025 returning approximately March 17, 2025.
Employment: Approved the employment of the following for the 2024-2025 school year:
Cassidy (Dillon) Albright - Substitute teacher, effective October 9, 2024, through student teacher experience & as a home instructor for a student, effective October 23, 2024, as needed during the 2024-2025 school year
Sydney Eyerly - Substitute teacher, effective October 9, 2024, through student teacher experience
Geoff Newland - Long-term sub, Junior High, from approximately November 21, 2024 – February 18, 2025
Justice Holmes - Long-term sub, Western PE (for Cheryl Longnecker who is subbing for Noelle Dudgeon) from January 6, 2025 – March 17, 2025
Sally Giefer - After school director/tutor of the “Afterburner” Program, Sally will run the program from 2:45 – 4:00 two days a week with the assistance of NHS students. The goal of the program is to provide academic assistance to students in need.
Mentor: Approved payment of $350.00 to Sally Giefer for mentoring Marty Shoup (High School English, Year 1) during the 2024-2025 school year.
Salary Adjustments: Approved the following salary adjustments:
Kevin Richer - BS to BS + 10
Trisha Hughes - ME to ME + 10
Reanna Sutherland - BS + 10 to BS + 20
Maternity Leave: Approved Alyssa McCready’s request for maternity leave from approximately March 31, 2025 – May 29, 2025.
Classified:
Retirement: Accepted Lisa Williamson’s retirement as educational aide at Western, effective December 31, 2024.
Resignations: Accepted the following resignations:
Heather Noland - Educational aide and sub calling at Eastern
Brenda Kehrle - Pre-School bus route, effective December 2, 2024
OTHER BUSINESS:
Coaching Recommendation: Approved the following coaching recommendations:
Mitch Sellers - Freshman baseball
John Murray - Strength/Condition (December & January)
Michael Gallik - Volunteer wrestling
Walker Carr - Volunteer wrestling
Philip Smith - Volunteer wrestling
Zachary Zolman - Volunteer wrestling pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements
Geary Gallik - Volunteer wrestling pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements
Melanie Walker - Volunteer cheerleading advisor, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements
Parent Volunteer: Approved the following parent volunteers:
Jessica Klupp
Marilyn Waxter (effective November 5, 2024)
Dianne Wheaton
Substitute Lists: Approved the substitute lists as provided by MOESC dated October 18th through November 15, 2024.
Resolution Competitive Retail Electric Service: Approved Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Competitive Retail Electric Service from the Lowest Responsible Bid for the period of two years beginning July 2025 with an optional three years not to exceed a total of five years.
Tax Abatement – CNG: Approved the tax abatement between CNG and the Village of Lexington and the corresponding School Compensation Agreement to be paid over the 15 years of the agreement.
Nutrition Compliance: Accepted the report of nutrition compliance pursuant to Board Policy and ORC 3313.814.
NEOLA Board Policies Rescinded: Rescinded the following Board Policies as suggested in the annual fall NEOLA update:
• Po100: Definitions
• Po142.1: Oath
• Po0151: Organizational Meeting
• Po1512: Officers
• Po155: Committees
• Po0163: Officers
• Po0164: Notice of Meetings
• Po165.1: Regular Meetings
• Po165.2: Special Meetings
• Po0166: Executive Session
• Po167.2: Use of Personal Communication Device
• Po173: Board Officers
• Po4120.08: Employment of Personnel for Cu-Curricular/Extra-Curricular Activities
• Po4121: Criminal History Record Check
• Po5131: Student Transfers
• Po5136: Personal Communication Devices
• Po5136.01: Electronic Equipment
• Po5200: Attendance
• Po5500: Student Conduct
• Po5780: Student/Parent Rights
• Po6220: Budget Preparation
• Po6320: Purchasing and Bidding
• Po6460: Vendor Relations
• Po7540.03: Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety
• Po7540.04: Staff Technology Acceptable Use and Safety
• Po8310: Public Records
• Po9160: Public Attendance at School Events NEOLA
Board Policies Adopted: Adopted the following Board Policies as suggested in the annual fall NEOLA updates:
• Po0165: New Board Meetings
• Po0166: New Board Agendas
• Po7540.09: New Artificial Intelligence (AI) • Po100: Definitions
• Po142.1: Oath
• Po0151: Organizational Meeting
• Po0152: Officers
• Po155: Committees
• Po0163: Officers
• Po0164: Notice of Meetings
• Po0167.2: Executive Session
• Po167.7: Use of Personal Communication Device
• P04120.08: Employment of Personnel for Co-Curricular/Extra-Curricular Activities
• P04121: Criminal History Record Check
• Po5131: Student Transfers
• Po5136: Personal Communication Devices
• Po5136.01: Electronic Equipment
• Po5200: Attendance
• Po5500: Student Conduct
• Po5780: Student/Parent Rights
• Po6220: Budget Preparation
• Po6320: Purchasing and Bidding
• Po6460: Vendor Relations
• Po7540.03: Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety
• Po7540.04: Staff Technology Acceptable Use and Safety
• Po8310: Public Records
• Po9160: Public Attendance at School Events
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Ms. Whitney, Mr. Stoner ----4 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Dr. Gottschling ----1
Motion adopted.
Employment
54-24 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Mr. Roberts to approve the following for employment:
Employment: Approved the employment of the following for the 2024-2025 school year:
Heather Noland - Student Service secretary, two-year contract, effective November 4, 2024
Elizabeth Vallance - Substitute educational aide/secretary at the high school
Emily Cockley - Transportation, substitute van driver, effective October 18, 2024, substitute bus driver pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements
Janet Aldous - Transportation, sub van driver, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements
Frank Wuchich - Transportation, sub van driver, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements
Geoffrey Newland - Substitute educational aide
Brandy Perry - Pre-School educational aide, pending successful of all pre-employment requirements, one-year contract, effective November 11, 2024
Suzanne Fackelman - Substitute educational aide
Grace Lingrel-Delong - High School 2nd shift custodian, one-year contract, effective November 18, 2024
Hannah Whitney - Educational aide, Eastern, one-year contract, effective November 25, 2024, also substitute caller for the second half of the 2024-2025 school year
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner ----3 Nay: None ----0 Abstain: Ms. Whitney ----1 Absent: Dr. Gottschling ----1
Motion adopted.
Discussion
1. Mr. Secrist and Mr. Masi shared that due to the impacts caused by OHSAA changes to the spring sports Divisions and postseason schedules, approximately 50 Seniors would be negatively impacted and have conflicts with graduation currently scheduled for Friday, May 23rd at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Secrist discussed with the Board the option of moving the graduation to Sunday, May 25th at 7:30 p.m. to alleviate the scheduling conflict impact on our Seniors and their families.
GRADUATION DATE CHANGE
55-24 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Mr. Schuster to move graduation for the 2024-2025 school year to Sunday, May 25th at 7:30 p.m
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Mr. Schuster, Ms. Whitney, Mr. Stoner ----4 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Dr. Gottschling ----1
Motion adopted.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
56-24 Motion by Ms. Whitney, seconded by Mr. Schuster, 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: 7:55 p.m.
Returned to regular session: 8:32 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
57-24 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Ms. Whitney to adjourn. 8:34 p.m.
Roll Call – Yea: Ms. Whitney, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner ----4 Nay: None ----0 Absent: Dr. Gottschling ----1
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 ________________________
