Highland Local School District - Regular Meeting

Middle School Robotics Room
Wednesday, April 8 - 6:00pm - 8:00pm

    1. Call to Order
    President

    2. Pledge of Allegiance
    President

    3. Roll Call
    President

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


    4. Approve Minutes

    Resolution to approve the minutes for the March 11, 2026 Regular Board of Education Meeting and March 31, 2026 Special Board of Education Meeting as presented.


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


    5. Approve Financial Statements
    Mr. Fleming

    Resolution to approve the March 2026 Financial Statements as presented.

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


    6. New Business

    7. Board's Report
    Board of Education

    Messmer:

    Thacker:

    Belcher:

    Baldwin:

    Clark:


    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.

    • Mrs. Fitzpatrick

    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-useproperty 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      


    12. Regular Session Reconvened

    13. Accept Retirement Letters From Personnel

    Resolution to approve the following retirements

    Denise Stillwell    HS Administrative Assistant    (Effective 7-1-2026)

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


    14. Accept Resignation Letters From Personnel

    Resolution to accept the following resignations

    Barb Horton    ES Cook/Cashier    (Effective 3-22-26)

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


    15. Approve Classified Subs

    Resolution to approve the following classified substitutes

    Stephanie Shaw    Custodian and Cook/Cashier

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


    16. Approve Mid Ohio ESC Teacher Substitute List

    Resolution to approve the Mid Ohio ESC teacher substitute list.

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


    17. Approve FMLA

    Resolution to approve FMLA for the attached list of eligible employees.

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


    18. Approve Scholarships and Awards

    Resolution to approve scholarship payments and awards payments as awarded and documented by the guidance department via fund.

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


    19. Approve Board Policy Changes

    Resolution to approve 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        


    20. META Solutions Master Services Agreement

    Resolution to approve the Master Service Agreement with META Solutions for fiscal year 2027.

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


    21. 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: Lynn Baldwin       Kathy Belcher       Nate Clark       Eric Thacker       John Messmer      


    22. ODOT Salt Contract Participation

    Resolution authorizing participation in the ODOT road salt contracts awarded for the 2026-2027 year (tonnage 120).

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


    23. Approve Buckeye Asphalt - West Campus

    Resolution to approve the quote from Buckeye Asphalt for seal coating, crack filling, and paint striping of the west campus lots and approve the quote from Buckeye Asphalt for pot hole repair. 

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


    24. Accept Donation

    Resolution to accept a donation of $10,000 from the Athletic Boosters.

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


    25. Approve Revised Appropriations and Resources

    Resolution to approve the revised fund level appropriations and estimated resources for FY2026.

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


    26. 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-useproperty 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      


    27. Regular Session Reconvened

    28. 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 13, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Middle School Robotics Room.

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


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