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 February 11, 2026 Regular Board of Education Meeting and March 4, 2026 Special Meeting as presented.

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

Resolution to approve the February 2026 Financial Statements as presented.

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

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.

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 accept the following resignations

Victoria Diaz    Long Term Substitute Teacher

Laura Dempsey    Cook/Cashier    (Effective 2-13-26)

Jessica Meadows    Cook/Cashier    (Effective 3-12-26)

Syanne Palmer    HS Spanish        (Effective at the end of the contract year)

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

Resolution to approve the following FMLA requests

Matt Jones

Tiffani Miller

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

Resolution to approve the following classified substitutes

Kara Adams    Custodian

Samantha Keefer    Custodian

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

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

Dalton Hall        (Diana Gonzalez Leave)

Valerie Meier    (Jordan Kennedy Leave)

Jane Webster    (Kelsey Ware 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 the following classified contracts 

Mya Watson    Paraprofessional 2    (Step 0)    (Effective 2-27-26)

Danielle Padrutt    Paraprofessional 2    (Step 2)    (Effective 2-23-26)

Diane Suttinger    Cook/Cashier    (Step 0)    (Effective 3-9-26)

Barbara Horton    Cook/Cashier    (Step 0)    (Effective 3-2-26) 6 hrs/day 3-2-26 to 3-9-26 and 4.5 hrs from 3-10-26 forward

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

Resolution to approve the following personnel for the $600 paraprofessional 3 stipend prorated for the remainder of the year.

Mya Watson

Danielle Padrutt

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

Resolution to authorize and direct the Treasurer to place notice in the Morrow County Sentinel giving public notice in accordance with Section 3307.353 of the Ohio Revised Code that the Board of Education will hold a public meeting on the issue of re-employing Michael DeLaney and Katie Pauley.

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

Resolution to approve the following administrative contract.

Chad Carpenter    High School Principal

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

Resolution to approve the following administrative contract.

Shawn Winkelfoos    Elementary Principal

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

Resolution to approve the following administrative contract.

Ty Stover    High School Assistant Principal

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

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

PO 2431.06       Name Image Likeness (NIL)

PO 3440            Job Related Expenses

PO 4440            Job Related Expenses

PO 5112            Entrance Requirements

PO 5421            Grading

PO 5430            Class Rank

PO 6220            Budget Preparation

PO 6320            Purchasing and Bidding

PO 6325            Procurement: Federal Grants/Funds

PO 6423            Use of Credit Cards

PO 6425            Use of District Tax Exempt Certificate

PO 6460            Vendor Relations

PO 6465            Affinity, Rewards, or Other Discount Programs

PO 7540.09       Artificial Intelligence

General Fund Cash Balance Reserve

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

Resolution to approve the following board policy changes.

PO 8500 Food Services

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

Resolution to approve the individual service agreement between Specialized Education of Ohio, Inc, that owns and operates High Road School of Bucyrus and Highland Local School District for the remainder of school year 2025-2026.

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

Resolution to approve preschool tuition for school year 2026-2027 of $350 per month.

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

Resolution to acknowledge the findings of the Ohio Department of Transportation's 2024 Preliminary Feasibility Student and Supporting Continued Improvements to the Existing U.S. 23 Corridor as the Preferred Approach.

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

Resolution to approve the true up agreement with Mid Ohio Educational Service Center.

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

Resolution to approve the the PPG Stem, MCRTA Music, and MCRTA English grants along with the creation of the following funds and SCCs:

• PPG STEM           Fund: 019    SCC: 9426
• MCRTA Music       Fund: 019   SCC: 9526
• MCRTA English    Fund: 019    SCC:9626

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

Resolution to approve OMNI/TSACG as the district Third Party Administrator (TPA) for compliance management of the district's 403(b) and 457 plans and to approve the 403(b) and 457 plan documents.

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

Resolution to inform the Highland Local Schools Community of actions needed for the FY27 School Year due to Ohio Property Tax Reform.

WHEREAS numerous property tax reform bills were approved to provide relief to Ohio tax payers.  

WHEREAS this property tax reform may reduce Highland Local Schools revenue used to support education needs of our children by an estimated $1.8 million based on the published forecast.

WHEREAS the Highland Board of Education will take necessary action to ensure the district’s goal of maintaining sufficient financial reserves and minimizing deficit spending are met to protect against detrimental reductions in educational programming, staffing or service levels due to unexpected revenue shortfalls as a result of this reform.

WHEREAS due to the potential impact of Ohio’s property tax reform, the Highland Board of Education has directed the District’s Superintendent and Treasurer to take the necessary action and plan for the reduction of operating cost by $1 million for the FY27 school year.

WHEREAS if additional revenue is provided by the State of Ohio or other sources that are unknown at this time, the Highland Board of Education will revise the planned actions to reduce operating cost in FY27 while still ensuring the district’s goal of maintaining sufficient financial reserves and minimizing deficit spending are met.

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

Resolution to approve a farm lease with Swetland Farms LLC. for parcel #N36-001-00-235-02.

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, April 8, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the middle school robotics room.

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