Highland Local School District - Regular Meeting

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the minutes for the January 7, 2026 Organizational and Regular Board of Education Meetings as presented

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the January 2026 Financial Statements as presented.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Messmer:

Thacker:

Belcher:

Baldwin:

Clark:

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.

Mr. Porter

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: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the following resignations

Lori Rodgers    MS Paraprofessional (Effective 2-28-26)

Renae Schwartz    MS Paraprofessional

Tamara Ufferman    ES Paraprofessional 3   (moving to the high school as Paraprofessional 2); effective 2-6-2026.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the following personnel for retirement.

Laura Wayne    MS Teacher    (Effective 4-30-26)

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the following FMLA request    

Robin Stewart    MS Secretary    (2/16/26 - 4/8/26)

Diana Gonzalez    ES Teacher    (3/30/26 - 6/6/26)

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the following supplemental contracts

HS Baseball

Don Kline     Head Coach     9+Years

Wyatt Gresh    Asst HS baseball     4 Years

Tom Johnson-    Asst HS baseball     6 Years

Chad Williams-       Asst HS baseball     9+Years (Split Contract)

Travis Church        Asst HS baseball         9+Years (Split Contract)

Garrett Ulrey        Volunteer

HS Track

Luke Beal    Boys Head Coach     9+Years

Chip Wendt    Girls Head Coach    9+Years

Denny West    Asst HS Boys     9+Years

Barry Myers    Asst HS Girls     9+Years

Kipp Nelson    Asst HS Boys     9+Years

Brittany Noonan     Asst HS Girls     2 Years

Camryn Taylor    Volunteer

Kristy Daugherty     Volunteer

HS Softball

Abby Steele    Head Coach    4 Years

Cait Nelson    Asst HS     2 Years

Audrey Robinson    Asst HS 0 Years

Guinevere Jackson    Asst HS     1 Years    (Split Contract)

Steward Squires    Asst HS     2 Years    (Split Contract)

Brooklyn Geiger    Volunteer Softball

MS Track

Derek Bower     Boys Head Coach    9+Years

Jeanie Styer    Girls Head Coach     9+Years

Dustin Green    MS Asst     7 Years

Angel Cahall    MS Asst     5 Years

Chris Rupe    MS Asst     8 Years

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the following personnel for long term substitute teacher.

Victoria Diaz        (Diana Gonzalez Leave)

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the Mid Ohio ESC Substitute Teacher List

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve a contract amendment for the following personnel:

Chad Carpenter

Ty Stover

Matt Bradley

Chad Russell

M. Shawn Winkelfoos

Caleb Duncan

Jessica Litzenberg

Paige Walters

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve a contract amendment for the following personnel:

Michael (Gar) Keen

Christine Scaffidi

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve a MOU with the Highland Education Association to extend student hours or add additional days as necessary to ensure students meet the state minimum requirements.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve a calendar amendment for the 2025-2026 school year.

The Highland Board of Education approves the following calendar changes for the 2025-2026 school year.

1. Add President's Day (February 16th) as a student and staff day.

2. Allow for adding April 6th as an additional day if necessary.

3. Allow for additional minutes to be added to the school day if necessary.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve preschool tuition of $200 per month for the 2026-2027 school year (no change from 2025-2026 school year).  

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the following trip request.

NJROTC     Parris Island, SC    March 17-20, 2026

Robotics      Dayton        March 6-7, 2026

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the following board member to the Tri Rivers Career Center Board.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the 2026-2027 school calendar.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the following Administrative Guidelines

AG 9270: Procedure For Educating A Child At Home

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the membership with the OHSAA for the 2026-2027 school year.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve paying district employees who work OHSAA events hosted by Highland an amount per hour as determined by the Athletic Director, but no more than $15 per hour.  Funds to pay the workers are supplied by the OHSAA through the flat hosting fee.  In no case will costs to host exceed the flat hosting fee provided by the OHSAA.  

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the purchase of two (2) Conventional Cummins 78 passenger buses from Rush Truck Centers through the META Solutions stock bus bid contract which includes warranty (warranty price not shown; Rush Truck Centers still waiting on vendor pricing).

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to approve the revised appropriations (fund level) and estimated resources.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer      

Resolution to approve the February 2026 Five Year Forecast as presented.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

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: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer       

Resolution to adjourn this meeting and schedule the next meeting of the Highland Local School District Board of Education to be held Wednesday, March 11, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school robotics room.

Roll Call: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer