Highland Local School District - Regular Meeting

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 October 9, 2024 Work Session and 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 October 2024 Financial Statements as presented.

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


6. New Business

7. Board's Report
Board of Education

Messmer:

Short:

Belcher:

Castle:

Thacker:


8. Superintendent's Report
Mr. Huffman

9. Treasurer's Report
Mr. Fleming

10. 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.


11. Accept Retirement Letters From Personnel

Resolution to approve the retirement of the following personnel

Dianne Knight    ES Aide

Mary Cochran    HS Aide

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


12. Approve the Resignation of Classified Personnel

Resolution to approve the following classified resignation    

Riley DeWart        ES Aide  

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


13. Approve FMLA Request

Resolution to approve the following FMLA request    

Tristen Beltz    Approximately 1-9-25 to 3-14-25
 

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


14. Approve Certified NJROTC Subs

Resolution to approve the following certified NJROTC subs on an as needed basis with superintendent approval at the daily sub rate.

Senior Chief Louis D'Hondt

Major Paul Kunkle

 

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


15. Approve Volunteer

Resolution to approve the following volunteer

Tori Simms        HS Cheer Volunteer    

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


16. Approve Classified Contracts for 1 Year

Resolution to approve the following classified contracts for one year.

Kristina Ferenbaugh        ES EA1        (step 0; effective 10-28-24)

Christina Squires             ES EA1        (step 0)    

Sophia Hinkle                  ES EA1        (step 0; effective 11-4-24)

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


17. Approve Individual Agreements

Resolution to approve the individual agreements between Specialized Education of Ohio, Inc. who owns High Road School of Bucyrus and Highland Local Schools; effective 11/4/2024.

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


18. Approve First Reading of the 2025-2026 School Calendar

Resolution to approve the first reading of the 2025-2026 school calendar.

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


19. Approve First Reading of Board Policy Changes

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

PO 0100         Revised Definitions

PO 0142.1      Revised Oath

PO 0151         Revised Organizational Meeting

PO 0152         Revised Officers

PO 0163         Techincal Correction Presiding Officer

PO 0164         Notice of Meetings

PO 0165         October 2024 New Board Meetings

PO 0165.1      Rescind Regular Meetings

PO 0165.2      Rescind Special Meetings

PO 0166         New Agendas

PO 0167.2      October 2024 Renumbered Executive Session

PO 0173         Rescind Board Officers

PO 2264         Title IX New Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex In Education Programs or Activities

PO 2266         Copy of Nondiscrimination of the Bases of Sex In Education Programs or Activities

PO 3432         Copy of Sick Leave

PO 4120.08     Employment of personnel for co-curricular/extra-curricular activities

PO 4121         Copy of Criminal History Record Check

PO 5131         Revised Student Transfers

PO 5136.01     Electronic Equipment

PO 5200         Attendance

PO 5500         Revised Student Conduct

PO 5700         Revised Parent/Student Rights

PO 6220         Revised Budget Preparation

PO 6320         Purchasing and Bidding

PO 6460         Vendor Relations

PO 6530         Payment of Accrued, Unused Vacation Leave

PO 7530.02    Revised Staff Use of Personal Communication Devices

PO 7540.03    Revised Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety

PO 7540.04    Staff Technology Acceptable Use and Safety

PO 7540.09    New Artificial Intelligence (AI)

PO 8310         Copy of Public Records

PO 8510         Wellness

PO 9160         Copy of Public Attendance at School Events

PO 1130/3113/4113         Conflict of Interest
PO 6110         Grant Funds
PO 6111         Internal Controls
PO 6112         Cash Management of Grants
PO 6114         Cost Principles – Spending Federal Funds
PO 6325         Procurement – Federal Grants/Funds
PO 6550         Travel Payment & Reimbursement/Relocation Costs
PO 7310         Disposition of Surplus Property
PO 7450         Property Inventory

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


20. Approve Trip Request

Resolution to approve the Baseball team to travel to Myrtle Beach, SC from March 22 - 26.

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


21. Stall the Teacher

Resolution to approve the donation of funds through Stall the Teacher to be used for a district donation, in the amount donated, to Nanze to help dig wells and supply water.

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


22. HS Gym Floor

Resolution to approve The Ohio Floor Company HS gymnasium floor refinish proposal.

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


23. Accept Donation

Resolution to accept a $50,000 from the Boosters.

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


24. Purpose and Budget Clauses

Resolution to approve the following Purpose and Budget Clauses for SY2024-2025

  • MS Robotics
  • Class of 2025
  • Purple Star - Military

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


25. 2025 Dental and Vision

Resolution to approve the attached dental insurance carrier/premiums (Cigna) and vision insurance carrier/premiums (extend VSP for another year) for calendar year 2025 with board and employee % contributions to remain at the % contribution rates utilized for calendar year 2024. 

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


26. Five Year Forecast

Resolution to approve the November Five Year Forecast as presented.

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


27. 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      


28. Regular Session Reconvened

29. 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, December 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