Highland Local School District - Regular Meeting

Middle School Robotics Room
Wednesday, April 10 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

    1. Call to Order
    President

    2. Pledge of Allegiance
    President

    3. Roll Call
    President

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    4. Approve Minutes

    Resolution to approve the minutes for the March 13, 2024 Regular Board of Education Meeting as presented.

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    5. Approve Financial Statements
    Mr. Fleming

    Resolution to approve the March 2024 Financial Statements as presented.

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    6. Superintendent's Report
    Mr. Huffman

    7. Public Participation
    Community

    In order for the Board to fulfill its obligation to complete the planned agenda in an effective and efficient manner, a maximum of 30 minutes of public participation may be permitted at each meeting.
    Each person addressing the Board shall give his/her name. If several people wish to speak, each person is allotted three minutes until the total time of 30 minutes has elapsed. During that period, no person may speak twice until all who desire to speak have had the opportunity. Persons desiring more time should follow procedure of the Board to be placed on the regular agenda. The period of public participation may be extended by a vote of the majority of the Board present and voting.


    8. Accept Resignation Letters From Personnel

    Resolution to approve the following letters of resignation

    Scott Jones        Bus Driver        (Effective 4-5-24)

    Eric  Leprotti        Aide            (Effective 3-14-2024)

    Larquis Sowell    NJROTC      (Effective 8-31-2024)

    Bryan Gochenourer     ES Custodian    (Effective 4-4-2024)

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    9. Rescind Resignation Letter

    Resolution to rescind the following retirement letter and void the retirement for Mr. Shipley noted in resolution number 24-01-018.  Current employment contract to remain intact.

    Master Chief Aaron Shipley        NJROTC Instructor

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    10. Approve Leave of Absence

    Resolution to approve the following leave of absence    

    Kayla Chatterton        HS Teacher

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    11. Approve Classified Contract

    Resolution to approve the following classified contracts

    Brittany Matthews        EA2    Pre-School      1 Year Experience    (effective upon receipt of appropriate licensure)

    Amy Ciballi                   EA2    High School    4 Years Experience    (effective 4-18-2024)

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    12. Approve EA3 Stipends

    Resolution to approve the following EA3 stipends

    Brittany Matthews       Pre-School Aide

    Amy Ciballi                High School Aide

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    13. Resident Educator Teacher Mentor Stipends

    Resolution to authorize payment of $300 per teacher mentored for resident educator teacher mentors for the 2023-2024 school year.

    Allison Hearlihy            3 teachers

    Amy Fleming                2 teachers

    Kelley Hutchins            3 teachers

    Lisa Reely                    1 teacher

    Mary Davis                   1 teacher

    Sasha Kent                   1 teacher

    Syanne Palmer              1 teacher

    Tasha Terrill                    2 teachers

    Tom Johnson                1 teacher

    Tarren Woodruff            1 teacher

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    14. Approve Additional Aide Hours - Paid as EA2

    Resolution to approve additional aide hours    

    Amber Billings        Marching Band Aide (step 12 on the EA2 salary schedule)

    Lainey Schmidt      Marching Band Aide Backup (step 1 on the EA2 salary schedule)

    Tina Griffith            Marching Band Aide Backup (step 8 on the EA2 salary schedule)

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    15. Approve First Reading of Board Policy Changes

    Resolution to approve the first reading of the following board policy changes

    PO2623            Student assessment and academic intervention services

    PO2623.02        Revised Third Grade Reading Guarantee

    PO3120.04        Employment of Substitutes

    PO3140             Termination and Resignation

    PO3432             Copy of Sick Leave

    PO4124              Employment Contract

    PO4140              Termination and Resignation

    PO4432               Copy of Sick Leave

    PO5310               Copy of Health Services

    PO8600               Revised Transportation

    PO8600.04           Revised Bus Driver Certification

    PO8640                Transportation For Non-Routine Trips

    PO8650                Transportation By Vehicles Other Than School Buses

    PO8660                Revised Incidental Transportation Of Students By Private Vehicle

     

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    16. Approve 2024-2025 Pre-School Calendar

    Resolution to approve the 2024-2025 Pre-School calendar.

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    17. College Credit Plus MOU - Columbus State CC

    Resolution to approve entering into an MOU with Columbus State CC for college credit plus tuition and fees/school district book processes.
    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    18. Approve Reimbursement to Bus Drivers for Electricity

    Resolution to approve a one-time reimbursement of $100.00 to the following bus drivers for electricity used to plug their buses in at home during the 2023-2024 school year.

    Toni Stepp

    Trina Ratliff

    Christy Carson

    Danielle Rehm

    Jody Keller

    Kendra Albanese

    Brad Duncan

    Sandy Beckel

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    19. Bus Purchase

    Resolution to approve the purchase of a 2024 IC Diesel School Bus with a wheel chair lift from Rush Truck Centers at a cost of $129,639 through META Solutions stock bus bid contract which includes warranty.
    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    20. Donation to Morrow County Board of Developmental Disabilities

    Resolution to approve a donation in the amount of $498.53 derived from a fundraiser for the purpose of donation.

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    21. Workers' Compensation Third Party Administrator

    Resolution to approve Sedgwick to serve as the District's Third Party Administrator for Workers' Compensation claims and approve the Group Retro Rating Plan for the policy year beginning January 1, 2025.

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    22. Move from Regular to Executive Session

    WHEREAS, as a public board of education may hold an executive session only after a majority of a quorum of this board determines by a roll call vote to hold such a session and only at a regular or special meeting for the sole purpose of the consideration of any of the following matters:

    1. To consider the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official or the investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or regulated individual.
    2. To consider the purchase of property for public purposes or for the sale of property at competitive bidding.
    3. Conferences with an attorney for the board of education concerning disputes involving the board of education that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.
    4. Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of their employment.
    5. Matters required to be kept confidential by federal law or rules or state statutes.
    6. Specialized details of security arrangements where disclosure of the matters discussed might reveal information that could be used for the purpose of committing or avoiding prosecution for a violation of the law.
    Therefore,
    BE IT RESOLVED, that the Highland Local Board of Education, by a majority of the quorum present at this meeting, does hereby declare its intention to hold an executive session on item(s) as listed above.

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


    23. Regular Session Reconvened

    24. Adjourn this Meeting and Confirm Next Meeting Date

    Resolution to adjourn this meeting and schedule the next meeting of the Highland Local School District Board of Education to be held Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school robotics room.

    Roll Call: Kathy Belcher       Burgess Castle       John Messmer       William Short       Eric Thacker      


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