Highland Local School District - Regular Meeting

Middle School Robotics Room
Wednesday, April 9 - 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 12, 2025 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 2025 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. 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:

    A. Consideration of the appointment, employment, dismissal, discipline, promotion, demotion, or compensation of a public employee or official.

    B. Investigation of charges or complaints against a public employee, official, licensee, or student unless such employee, official, licensee, or student requests a public meeting; except that consideration of the discipline of a Board member for conduct related to the performance of their duties or their removal from office shall not be held in executive session.

    C. Consideration of the purchase of property for public purposes, or sale or other disposition of unneeded, obsolete, unfit-for-use property at competitive bidding, if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest.

    D. Discussion with the Board's legal counsel of disputes involving the Board that are the subject of pending or imminent court action.

    E. Preparing for, conducting, or reviewing negotiations or bargaining sessions with public employees concerning their compensation or other terms and conditions of employment.

    F. Matters required to be confidential by Federal law or regulations or State statutes.

    G. Specialized details of security arrangements and emergency response protocols where disclosure might reveal information that could jeopardize the District's security.

    H. Consideration of confidential information related to the marketing plans, specific business strategy, production techniques, trade secrets, or personal financial statements of an applicant for economic development assistance, or to negotiations with other political subdivisions respecting requests for economic development assistance, provided that both of the following conditions apply:
        1. The information is directly related to a request for economic development assistance that is to be provided or administered under one of the statutes referenced in R.C. 121.22(G)(8)(1), or that involves public infrastructure improvements or the extension of utility services that are directly related to an economic development project, and

        2. An unanimous quorum of the Board or its subcommittee determines, by a roll call vote, that the executive session is necessary to protect the interests of the applicant or the possible investment or expenditure of public funds to be made in connection with the economic development project.
    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      


    12. Regular Session Reconvened

    13. Accept Resignation Letters From Personnel

    Resolution to approve the following resignations

    Joey Longhino        HS Social Studies

    Chad Russell          MS STEM Teacher

    Mary Conners         ES Teacher

    Dana Kemmer        ES Library Aide

    Bryee Guisinger      ES Aide

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


    14. Approve Classified Subs

    Resolution to approve the following classified substitutes    

    Joseph Farrell        Custodian

    Courtney Clinedinst    Aide/Cook/Secretary

    Mary Cochran           Secretary        (Effective 4-3-25)

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


    15. Approve Classified Contract

    Resolution to approve the following classified contracts

    Paul Ulrey                    MS Custodian                        (Step 5)    (Effective 3-24-25)

    Melanie Nauman         Administrative Assistant          (2 year)    (Retroactive to 8/1/2024)

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


    16. Employ Certified Personnel by Three (3) Year Contract

    Resolution to approve the following certified personnel per the adopted salary schedule.

    Mike DeLaney        Middle School Social Studies        (Step 28)

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


    17. Collective Bargaining Agreement

    Resolution to approve the Highland Local School District Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Highland Education Association effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026.

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


    18. Extended School Year Services

    Resolution to approve the following personnel for extended school year services paid at their hourly rate of $48/hr.

    Sidney Hammer    Speech Language Pathologist       

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


    19. Approve Reimbursement to Bus Drivers for Electricity

    Resolution to approve a one-time reimbursement of $100 to the following bus drivers for electricity used to plug their buses in at home during the 2024-2025 school year.

    Christy Carson

    Jody Keller

    Sandy Beckel

    Kendra Albanese

    Brad Duncan

    Trina Ratliff

    Brandi Eichhorn

    Ron Ragor

    Danielle Rehm

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


    20. Resident Educator Teacher Mentor Stipends

    Resolution to authorize payment of $300 per teacher mentored for resident educator teacher mentors for the 2024-2025 school year.

    Kelley Hutchins (2 people)

    Mary Davis (2 people)

    Syanne Palmer (2 people)

    Tasha Terrill

    Tarren Woodruff

    Cait Nelson

    Sasha Kent

    Tom Haring

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


    21. Approve Policy Update

    Resolution to approve the following policy updates

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

    PO 0131.1    Technical Corrections

    PO 0171        Rescind Review of Policy

    PO 1422.01    Drug Free Workplace

    PO 2271        College Credit Plus Program

    PO 2340        Field and Other Sponsored Trips

    PO 2431        Interscholastic Athletics

    PO 2460        Revised Special Education

    PO 5113        Inter-District Open Enrollment

    PO 5120        Assignment Within District

    PO 5131        Student Transfers

    PO 5136        Revised Personal Communication Devices

    PO 5223        Release Time For Religious Instruction During The School Day

    PO 5330        Use of Medications

    PO 5350        Student Health, Well-Being, and Suicide Prevention

    PO 5460        Graduation Requirements 

    PO 5610        Removal, Suspension, Expulsion, and Permanent Expulsion of Students

    PO 5751        Parental Status of Students

    PO 5780.01    Parent's Bill of Rights

    PO 6151        Insufficient Funds Checks

    PO 7440.01    Surveillance and Electronic Monitoring

    PO 8142        Criminal History Record Check For Contracted School Services

    PO 8452        Automated External Defibrillators and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

    PO 8500        Food Services

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


    22. Approve Preschool Calendar

    Resolution to approve the 2025-2026 preschool calendar

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


    23. Approve Pre-School Tuition

    Resolution to approve preschool tuition of $200 per month beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

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


    24. 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      


    25. Approve Trip Request

    Resolution to approve the following overnight trip requests

    MS Robotics         Dallas, TX (5/8 - 5/12)

    HS BPA                 Orlando, FL (5/7 - 5/11)

    HS/MS Robotics    Detroit, MI  (5/13 - 5/14)

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


    26. Robotics Competitions

    Resolution to approve the payment of robotics expenses from the General Fund for the trips to worlds and Detroit not to exceed $10,000 total from the General Fund (General Fund expenses to be incurred only if the robotics team can't raise the needed funds).

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


    27. BPA Competition

    Resolution to approve the payment of BPA expenses from the General Fund for the trip to nationals not to exceed $10,000 total from the General Fund (General Fund expenses to be incurred only if BPA can't raise the needed funds).

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


    28. Approve Dishwasher

    Resolution to approve the purchase of a commercial dishwasher from Skelton's at a cost of $27,336 for the high school.

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


    29. Accept Donation

    Resolution to accept a donation from the boosters of a vertimax machine estimated to be worth $2,500.

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


    30. MSP Agreed Upon Procedures

    Resolution to approve the agreement with Julian and Grube to provide Medicaid School Program agreed-upon procedures.

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


    31. Review Lowest Responsible Slack Center Bid

    Resolution to authorize the Superintendent and Treasurer to review the lowest responsible bid for the Slack Center renovation and grant authority to the Superintendent and Treasurer to execute and sign a contract with the lowest responsible bidder with appropriate technical competence.

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


    32. 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 14, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school robotics room.

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


Close