The Lexington Board of Education met in regular session in the Robert H. Whitney Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Mr. Keith Stoner, President, called the meeting to order. Roll was called by the Treasurer.
Roll Call – Members present: Mr. Keith Stoner, Mr. Dave Roberts, Mr. Rob Schuster, Ms. Lore’ Whitney, Dr.Gottschling -----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, provided the Board with her report regarding various activities throughout the District, including athletics, clubs, other student activities, and important upcoming dates.
Student Recognition
The board recognized Alex Trolian for student achievement. Alex scored a perfect composite score of 36 on the ACT. High School principal Jamie Masi presented Alex with a certificate commemorating this achievement and the Board offered their congratulations on such an amazing achievement.
Administrative Report – Preschool
Preschool Director Meredith Cotterill provided the Board with an update on the Lexington Preschool, including the following:
• Continued growing enrollment;
• Positive impact on students transitioning to KG;
• Accepting three year old enrollment allowing for applicable peer models for children with disabilities;
• Continuation of services including 2 general ed classrooms, 1 integrated classroom, and 1 special education classroom;
• New Preschool curriculum;
• Three assessments used at the PK level
• Positive assessment data for the Lex PK students;
• Playdates and Community Engagement as optional monthly activities for family engagement, noting 157 families have participated in events through April;
• Collaboration with Pioneer to create a playhouse for the playground;
• PK survey results and creation of a parent advisory committee to provide family supports.
The Board thanked Ms. Cotterill for her continued work and the work of the preschool team in serving the Lexington Preschool students.
FINANCIAL ITEMS
19-25 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Dr. Gottschling to approve the following financial items:
1. The minutes from the March Regular meeting were approved.
2. The monthly financial report for March 2025 was presented.
3. Approved the invoice from The Friendly House in the amount of $9,000.00 for pool rental for our swim and dive teams for the 24-25 season.
4. Approved continued enrollment in the Sedgewick Ohio, School Workers’ Compensation Group Retrospective Program for the Calendar Year 2026; annual fee $3,915 and targeted savings of $15,724.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner, Ms. Whitney ----5 Nay: None ----0
Motion adopted.
DONATION
20-25 Motion by Ms. Whitney, second by Mr. Roberts to accept the donation of a Skutt KM-1027-3 208-volt-3-phase kiln valued at approximately $4,008.75 from Keith Stoner for the Lexington Art Department.
Roll Call – Yea: Ms. Whitney, Mr. Roberts, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Schuster -----4
Nay: None ----0
Abstain: Mr. Stoner ----1
Motion adopted.
PERSONNEL
21-25 Motion by Mr. Roberts, seconded by Ms. Whitney to approve the following personnel items:
Certified:
Employment: Approved the employment of the following:
Alyson Berg - High School Math Teacher, one-year contract, effective August 15, 2025.
Addeline Haring - Intervention Specialist, Central Elementary, one-year contract, effective August 15, 2025 substitute teacher, effective May 1, 2025.
Cara Park - Intervention Specialist, Western Elementary, one-year contract, effective August 15, 2025.
Leave of Absence: Approved Emily Santamaria for a maternity leave of absence effective April 28th through May 30, 2025 and a one-year leave of absence for the 2025-2026 school year.
Salary Adjustments: Approved Roxanne Drueschler from ME+10 to ME+20.
Non-Renewals: Approved the non-renewals of the following:
Cassidy Albright
Abbie Higinbotham
Abbie Masi
Classified:
Employment: Approved the employment of the following:
Karli Smith - Educational Aide at Western Elementary for the 25-26 school year, 1 year contract, effective August 15, 2025.
Craig Clever - Maintenance Department volunteer effective April 16, 2025.
OTHER BUSINESS:
Supplemental Non-Renewals: Approved non-renewal of spring coaches due to lack of evaluations for spring sports:
Jeff Strickler - Varsity baseball
Mike Schwechheimer - JV baseball
Mitch Sellers - Freshman baseball
Todd Galownia - Varsity softball
Patrick O’Connell - JV softball
Michael Moore - Varsity boys’ track
Michelle Smith - Varsity girls’ track
Denise Benson - Assistant track
Grant Weaver - Assistant track (1/2 contract)
Jennifer Wells - Assistant track
Kyle Strauch - Assistant track
Buck Morton - Junior High track
Heidi Roush - Junior High track
Lisa Pfizenmayer - Junior High track
Matt Lautanen - Junior High track
Supplemental Non-Renewals: Approved to non-renew the following individuals who hold supplemental contracts but are not employees of the district:
Jacob Owens - Assistant football
Dalton Fix - Assistant football
John Murray - Assistant football - Weight/Strength
Nate West - Freshman football
Herbert Harkness - Junior High football Nick Durchik - Varsity boys’ golf
Pete Them - Varsity boys’ soccer
Gavin George - JV boys’ soccer
Jansen Webster - Girls’ tennis (60%)
Hayleigh Tucker - Girls’ tennis (40%)
Ron Schaub - Boys’ tennis
Seth Cole - JV boys’ cross country
- Junior High wrestling
- Assistant track (1/2 contract)
Sami Marcum - 7th grade volleyball
Pam Leasure - Varsity/JV cheerleading
Holli-Ann Anschutz - Freshman cheerleading
Derrick Shelenberger - Freshmen boys’ basketball
Gabby Stover - Varsity girls’ basketball
Eric Leprotti - JV girls’ basketball
Jay Schmidt - 7th grade girls’ basketball
Lauren Moeller - Assistant swim (diving)
Melisa Watters - Assistant Varsity swim
- Junior High swim
Dave Watters - Assistant swim
Libby Nickoli - Junior High swimming
Brad Kasper - Assistant wrestling
Chad Miley - Assistant wrestling
Roger Long - Varsity bowling
Julia Jungeberg - Track assistant
Diplomas: Approved Aubrey Klink as the staff member handing out diplomas at Commencement, as voted on by the senior class.
Richland Area Chamber: Recommended continued membership in the Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development for the period May 2025 through April 2026 at a cost of $290.
Substitute List: Approved the Lexington sub lists provided by MOESC dated March 14- April 14, 2025.
Roll Call – Yea: Mr. Roberts, Mr.Schuster, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Stoner, Ms. Whitney ----5 Nay: None ----0
Motion adopted.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
22-25 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Ms. Whitney, 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: Mr. Schuster, Ms. Whitney, Dr. Gottschling, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Stoner ----5 Nay: None ----0
Time entered: 7:30 p.m.
Returned to regular session: 8:14 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
23-25 Motion by Mr. Schuster, seconded by Ms. Whitney to adjourn. 8:14 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 __________________________
