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 July 8, 2026 Regular Board of Education Meeting as presented.

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

Resolution to approve the July 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.

• Highland Boosters

Resolution to approve the retirement of the following personnel 

Lisa Stooksbury    Paraprofessional    (Effective September 30th, 2026)

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

Resolution to accept the resignation of board vice president Eric Thacker effective August 28, 2026.

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

Resolution to accept the following resignations.

Loren Prosser    ES Paraprofessional    (Effective End of the Contract Year)

Angela Starner    ES Paraprofessional    (Effective 8-6-26)

Alanna Salmons    Paraprofessional    (Effective 8-11-26)

Trisha Harmon    Custodian    (Effective 8-21-26)

Mindy Marquez    Bus Aide    (Effective 8-21-26)

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

Resolution to approve the following contract hours adjustment

Sara Garcia    From 6 hours per day to 7 hours per day.

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

Resolution to approve the following certified contracts for one year.

Paige Rinehart    Intervention Specialist    (Step 0)

Jordan Ellington    Spanish    (Step 2)

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

Resolution to approve the following classified contracts for one year.

Bailey Cavinee    ES Cook/Cashier    (Step 0)

Samantha Roberts    Paraprofessional 2    (Step 16)

Hailey Guisinger    Paraprofessional 2    (Step 2)

Trisha Harmon    Bus Aide    (Step 4)

Mindy Marquez    Bus Driver    Effective August 24,2026  (Step 0)

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

Resolution to approve the salaries provided by the Navy for Louis D'hondt and Paul Kunkle (unchanged from prior contract year); salary subject to change when congress enacts new scales and as such, the school share of salary could increase.

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

Resolution to approve extended service days for the following personnel

Kathleen Pauley            High School Guidance Counselor            20 Days

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

Resolution to approve the following supplemental contract for the 2026-2027 school year.

Aaron Richards    Robotics Assistant    (0 Years)

Billie Cooke    Robotics Assistant    (Volunteer)

Michelle Marcum    Robotics Assistant    (Volunteer)

Henry Spence    After School Athletic Assistant    ($1000)

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

Resolution to approve additional pay for elementary testing coordinator work at their hourly rate to be spread out evenly through each pay of the contract.

Caleb Duncan            (105 hours)

Jessica Litzenberg      (105 hours)

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

Resolution to approve a $600 stipend for the following paraprofessional 3's.

Carrie Roush

Nikol Stewart

Hailey Guisinger

Kila Stillwell

Samantha Roberts

Mya Watson

Tiffany D'Hondt

Renae Schwartz

Brittney Mullins

Camryn Taylor

Kristina Ferenbaugh

Stephanie Lehman

Tara Weaver

Olivia Hamilton

Michelle Marcum

Danielle Ulrey

Amy Ragor

Stephanie Jordan

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

Resolution to approve all classified substitute rates to be paid at the corresponding position's step 0.

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

Resolution to approve the following classified subs for the 2026-2027 school year.

John King

Jessica Meadows

Matt Loughman

Barb Horton

Dana Kemmer

Corrine Ballard

Linda Meade

Erin Hall

Mardissa Thorpe

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 pay, at their hourly rate, for staff members asked to perform duties outside their regular work day.  Example: preparation for learning sessions presented during professional development days.

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

Resolution to approve the payment of student registration fees associated with BPA membership required to take the district's business course offering.

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

Resolution to approve up to three online make up days for the 2026-2027 school year.

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

Resolution to approve the updated athletic ticket price schedule.

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

Resolution to approve the demolition of the former district office due to the conditions and the costs needed to renovate to an acceptable level.

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

Resolution to approve the demolition of the Highland Park gazebo due to the conditions and the costs needed to renovate to an acceptable level.

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

Resolution to approve a $600 cell phone stipend for the following personnel for the 26-27 school year for using their own personal cell phones for school business (considered 100% earned and payable in January of 2027; will be prorated based on days worked vs days in contract if service is terminated prior to January of 2027).

Chadwick Carpenter                Shawn Winkelfoos

Ty Stover                                 Matthew Bradley

Caleb Duncan                         Jessica Litzenberg

Paige Walters                         Gar Keen

Dana Lehman                         Christine Scaffidi

Derek Bower                           Kenneth Disbennett

Garrett Ulrey                        Carl Hardwick

Sara Wallace                             Chad Russell

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

Resolution to approve the following:

A resolution approving a school district compensation agreement in connection with a tax increment financing exemption and resolution expected to be passed the the board of county commissioners of Morrow County, Ohio; waiving statutory notice periods in connection therewith; and providing related authorizations.

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

Resolution to approve the orientation and mobility agreement with Cardinal Rehab LLC for the 2026-2027 school year.

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

Resolution to approve payment to Mt. Gilead Exempted Village School District for the costs of transporting Highland students to the Knox County Learning Center and High Road School of Bucyrus during school year 26-27, which will be supported by an itemized invoice.

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

Resolution to approve Payment In-Lieu of Transportation for the following students who live in the Highland District and attend a valid community or chartered nonpublic school elsewhere within 30 minutes.  Transportation has been deemed impractical.

Rip Aldrich                Gilead Christian

Catherine Bailey       Gilead Christian

William Jenkins         Gilead Christian

Camille Dillion           Gilead Christian

Fleet Dillion               Gilead Christian

Teagan Drake           Gilead Christian

Madysen Eubanks    Gilead Christian

Asher Eubanks         Gilead Christian

Harper Gillen            Gilead Christian

Riley Hancq              Gilead Christian

Rebekah Hancq        Gilead Christian

Natalie Hurst             Gilead Christian

Silan Snashall           Gilead Christian

Kimberlie Snashall    Gilead Christian

Ethan Dill                   Genoa Christian

Norah Dill                   Genoa Christian

Layla Hart                  Genoa Christian

Lydia Hart                  Genoa Christian

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

Resolution to approve                 as the District's OSBA Delegate and                 as the District's Alternate Delegate for the 2026 OSBA Capital Conference.

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

Resolution to authorize the Superintendent to approve mileage reimbursement to employees who drive their personal vehicle in the performance of their duties as per our adopted schedule at the IRS mileage reimbursement rate of 76 cents per mile effective 7/1/2026.

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

Resolution to approve joining the HPS purchasing consortium for the purchase of food service items during school year 26-27.

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

Resolution to approve the commercial paper activity report for FY2026.

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

Resolution to approve the August 2026 Financial 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-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      

Resolution to adjourn this meeting and schedule the next meeting of the Highland Local School District Board of Education to be held Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Slack Center Board Room.

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