Highland Local School District - Regular Meeting

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

Resolution to approve the minutes for the June 26, 2024 Regular Board of Education Meeting as presented

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

Resolution to approve the June 2024 and July 2024 Financial Statements as presented.

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

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.

Resolution to approve the following resignations:    

Jammie Varney    HS Cook

Sarah Howell        ES Aide

Melissa Hoar        HS Health 

Melanie Meade     ES Aide

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

Resolution to approve the following letters of retirement

Vicki Dunaway        ES Cook        (Effective 8-30-2024)

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

Resolution to approve the following maternity leave of absence

Caitlyn Messmer    (2024-2025 school year)

Kayla Arthurs    (return on Oct. 1, 2024)

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

Resolution to approve the following certified contracts for one year.

Craig Smith        HS Physical Education and Health    (Step 12)

Julia Baker        Interim School Nurse        (Step 6)

Karen Perry       HS Permanent Sub

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

Resolution to approve the following 1 year contract:

John Sachleben    (NJROTC Instructor)

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

Resolution to approve the salary and pay structure of John Sachleben (NJROTC Instructor); salary subject to increase when congress enacts new scales and as such, the school share of salary could increase.

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

Resolution to approve the HVAC Assistant salary schedule.

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

Resolution to hire the following HVAC Assistant for 1 Year (pay to be prorated depending on start date, which is to be determined):

Carl Hardwick                (Step 0)

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

Resolution to approve changing Madison Craigo's position from School-Community Liaison Social Worker to Family Liaison.

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

Resolution to approve the following classified contracts for one year.

Carrie Roush        ES Aide (step 5)

Melanie Meade    ES Cook (step 8)

Amanda Chapman    HS Cook  (Step 1)

Angela Starner    ES EA2    (Step 5)

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

Resolution to approve the following classified contracts for two years.

Beverley Arndt        Bus Aide

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

Resolution to approve a $600 supplemental for the following EA3 personnel for the 2024-2025 school year per the collective bargaining agreement.

Lisa Stooksbury

Ashley Hughes

Beth Crumpler

Angela Starner

Bethani Ebner

Heather Minor

Morgan McClure

Bryee Guisinger

Morgan Baldwin

Tammy Ufferman

Stephanie Lehman

Camryn Taylor

Sonja Cantrell

Brian Ballard

Brittney Mullins

Carrie Roush

Jennifer Alexander

Stephanie Jordan

Michelle Marcum

Amy Ragor

Danielle Ulrey

Gressa (Olivia) Hamilton

Brittany Matthews

Jennifer Kempton

Amy Ciballi

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

Resolution to approve a stipend of $5,000 to the following sub bus route drivers to be paid on bi-weekly installments (will be pro-rated if employee separates from employment).

Toni Stepp

Taylor Stepp

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

Resolution to approve the following supplemental contracts:

Denise Stillwell        PowerSchool Leader        (5 years; 2% increase from prior year) 

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

Resolution to approve additional pay for elementary testing coordinator at their hourly rate to be spread out evenly through each pay of the contract.

Caleb Duncan        (105 hours)

Jessica Litzenberg    (105 hours)

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

Resolution to approve the following classified subs:

Charles Pounds        Custodian

Corrine Ballard          Aide

Jen Bolton                 Aide

Britnie Weaver          Aide

Tara Weaver             Aide

Loretta Copeland      Bus Driver

Enoch Adkins            Bus Driver

Mardissa Thorpe       Bus Driver

John King                  Bus Driver

Amanda Chapman    Cook

Kelly Evans               Cook

Don Wymer               Custodian

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

Resolution to approve the payment of a trip bonus of $400 for every five (5) trips driven from July 1, 2024 through the end of FY2025 (6/30/2025).

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

Resolution to approve a $600 cell phone stipend for the following personnel for the 24-25 school year for using their own personal cell phones for school business (considered 100% earned and payable in January 2025)

Nathan Huffman                  Chadwick Carpenter

Shawn Winkelfoos              Ty Stover

Matthew Bradley                 Caleb Duncan

Jessica Litzenberg              Amy Randolph

Michael DeLaney                Dane Lehman

Christine Scaffidi                 Derek Bower

Kenneth Disbennett            Gar Keen

Russ Balsinger                    Carl Hardwick

Marty Zeger

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

Resolution to approve payment to Mt. Gilead Exempted Village School District for the costs of transporting Highland students to the Knox County Learning Center during school year 24-25, which will be supported by an itemized invoice.

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

Resolution to approve the master service agreement between Specialized Education of Ohio, Inc. who owns High Road School of Bucyrus and Highland Local School District (effective 8/1/2024).

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

Resolution to approve the agreement with Mid-Ohio ESC for TVI and OM Services as needed during school year 24-25.

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

Resolution to approve Bill Short as the District's OSBA Delegate and Eric Thacker as the District's Alternate Delegate for the OSBA Capital Conference.

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

Resolution to approve Payment In-Lieu of Transportation for the following students who live in the Highland District and attend a private school elsewhere within 30 minutes of the Highland District.  Transportation has been deemed impracticable.

Teagan Drake                        Gilead Christian

Madysen Eubanks                 Gilead Christian

Hanna Ernsberger                 Gilead Christian

Seth Ernsberger                    Gilead Christian

Adam Ernsberger                  Gilead Christian

Archer Persinger                    Gilead Christian

Silas Snashall                        Gilead Christian

Kimberlie Snashall                 Gilead Christian

Brooklyn Bateman                 Gilead Christian

Landon Bateman                   Gilead Christian

William Jenkins                      Gilead Christian

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

Resolution to approve the transfer of remaining unspent from the class of 2024 to the class of 2025.

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

Resolution to approve joining the HPS purchasing consortium for the purchase of food service items during school year 24-25.

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

Resolution to ratify the agreement between Guenther Mechanical and Highland Local School District for the replacement of an elementary air handler.

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

Resolution to approve the amended JEDD agreement between the Village of Marengo, Bennington Township, and Highland Local School District.

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

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      

Resolution to adjourn this meeting and schedule the next meeting of the Highland Local School District Board of Education to be held Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school robotics room.

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