The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Robert H. Whitney Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. 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. Whitney ----5
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, was away for a college visit but provided the Board with her written report regarding various activities throughout the District, including athletics, clubs, other student activities, and important upcoming dates.
Administrative Report – Eastern Elementary
Eastern Elementary Principal, Mike Grist, and Dean of Students, Stacy Davis, provided the Board with an update of various activities and information for Eastern Elementary, including the following:
• Run Club – 55 Runners, participated in 4 races this fall;
• Academic Challenge – 6th Grade placed 1st out of 32 teams, 5th Grade placed 5th out of 34 teams, and 4th Grade placed 7th out of 24 teams;
• Spelling Bee – Competed in the Richland County Spelling Bee and had 2 individuals qualify for the Tri-County Spelling Bee;
• Math Counts – Competed at the Regional Competition as the only 6th Grade team;
• Military Kids – Sent Care packages to a unit overseas;
• Robotics – 45 members started in January with new projects and robots;
• Merry Minutemen – Supported families throughout the District with Eastern raising $2,559.05 through the annual Student Council Change Drive;
• Student Council – Partnered with People Helping People in Mansfield to serve lunches;
• PBIS Update – Received Bronze Recognition, achieved PBIS Tier II, provided an update on the Dojo Store for positive behavior, and shared fundraising efforts;
• I-Ready Math and Reading Updates – Showing significant positive progress in all areas;
• Upcoming Events – Youth Fine Arts Month is in March and the Annual Pi Bee is March 14th.
The Board thanked Mr. Grist and Mrs. Davis for the update and continued leadership they provide at Eastern Elementary.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
11-25 Motion by Ms. Whitney, seconded by Mr. Schuster to approve the following financial items: 1. The minutes from the January Organizational and Regular meetings were approved.
2. The monthly financial report for January 2025 was presented.
3. Approved the donation of an ASUS Pro/Art PD5 Desktop Workstation, a BenQ 24” LED Monitor, and a MatrixGold 3 License with Rhinoceros from Rego Designs for the Lexington Art Department valued at $7,700.24.
Roll Call – Yea: Ms. Whitney, Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner -----5 Nay: None ----0
Motion adopted.
PERSONNEL
12-25 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Dr. Gottschling to approve the following personnel items:
Certified:
Retirement: Accepted Jeff Strickler’s retirement, effective at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Employment: Approved the following:
Abbie Higinbotham - Substitute teacher during the 2024-2025 school year
Erica Bauer - ESL mentoring position for the 2024-2025 school year
Approved the following academic mentors, $20.00 per hour, February 3 – April 4, 2025:
Stephanie Blackstone
Kelli Parks
Trisha Hughes
Heather Remy
Annette Rush
Amy Gerhardt
Elisabeth Wells
Julie Detlef
Karie Whitaker
Jessica Duffey
Janie Zeger
Ellissa Anderson
Katelynn Reis
Lindsey Brokaw
Salary Adjustments: Approved Grayson Murray’s salary adjustment from MA + 30 to MA + 40.
Classified:
Retirements: Accepted the following retirements:
Brenda Kehrle - Transportation, bus driver, effective February 28, 2025
Belinda Pressey - Educational aide, Central, effective February 28, 2025
Resignations: Accepted the following resignations:
Mason Eisaman - High School custodian, effective January 28, 2025
Norm Nichols - Transportation, bus driver, effective February 7, 2025
Linda Volz - Superintendent/Board Office secretary, effective at the end of the 2024-2025 school year
Employment: Approved the employment of the following for the 2024-2025 school year:
Cris Nash - Transportation, sub bus driver, effective January 27, 2025
Mark Lynskey - Transportation, sub driver, pending successful completion of all pre-employment requirements
OTHER BUSINESS:
Coaching Resignations: Approved the following coaching resignations:
Brock Spurling - Varsity swim coach, effective January 22, 2025
Luke Rogers - Freshman football
Name Changes for our Athletic Venues: Approved the following name changes for our athletic venues:
• Renaming the Lexington Track and Field Invitational to the Ray Mitchell Track and Field Invitational. This is honor of the 50th Lexington Track and Field Invitational that Ray Mitchell started in 1975. (We missed the year of Covid)
• Naming the Football Field: Bill Stoner Field
• Naming the Football Stadium: Robert H. Whitney Stadium
School Calendar: Approved the calendar for the 2025 – 2026 school year.
Tuition Students: Approved the following tuition students for the 2025-2026 school year, tuition waived following teaching / working parent:
Noland Sutherland - New, Kindergarten
Aaliyah Benson - New, Kindergarten
Ridley Tridico - New, Kindergarten
Brooks Kist - New, Kindergarten
Collins Noblet - New, Kindergarten
Edith Stilson - New, Kindergarten
Music Department Driver: Approved Geoff Newland as a driver for the Music Department for their winter competitions beginning February 1, 2025 for the remainder of the 2024-2025 school year.
Parent Volunteer: Approved Erika Gibson as a parent volunteer for the 2024-2025 school year.
Music Department Volunteer: Approved Brenda Domka as a volunteer for the High School/ Junior High School Music Department.
OFCC Certification of Conditional Approval: Approved the OFCC Certification of Conditional Approval.
OHSAA: Approved the resolution for Ohio High School Athletic Association membership for 2025-2026.
High School Curriculum Guide: Approved the proposed changes to the High School Curriculum Guide.
Committee Appointments: Approved the following committee appointments:
a. Music Board of Control (2) – Ms. Whitney/Mr. Stoner
b. In-Service Review Board (1) – Mr. Roberts
c. Classified In-Service Review Board (1) – Mr. Roberts
d. Technology Committee (1) – Mr. Stoner
e. OSBA delegate/alternate – Dr. Gottschling/Ms. Whitney
Substitute List: Approved the Lexington sub lists provided by MOESC dated January 17, 2025 – February 14, 2025.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Stoner, Ms. Whitney ----5 Nay: None ----0
Motion adopted.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
13-25 Motion by Ms. Whitney, seconded by Dr. Gottschling, 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, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Schuster, Mr. Stoner ----5 Nay: None ----0
Time entered: 7:36 p.m.
Returned to regular session: 7:55 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
14-25 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Mr. Roberts to adjourn. 8:00 p.m.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Stoner, Ms. 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 _________________________
