By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Wauseon Board of Education held their meeting on Monday, July 14, where several decisions were made to prepare the district for the upcoming school year. Topics included meal pricing adjustments, policy approvals, personnel matters, and financial items.
One of the more noticeable changes for families will be the increase in breakfast and lunch prices. Student meals will rise by twenty cents, with breakfast now set at $2.55 and lunch at $4.05
Adult meals will also see an increase, with breakfast costing $3.55 and lunch at $4.95. High school students purchasing extra entrée items will pay $2.55, while middle and elementary students will pay $2.20. The price for milk remains unchanged at $0.75.
Technology and classroom fees were also set for the 2025 to 2026 school year. The insurance protection fund fee for student Chromebooks will remain at $25.00 for kindergarten through fifth grade and $35.00 for sixth through twelfth grade.
School supply and workbook fees will stay at $50.00 for all students across the district, keeping costs consistent with previous years.
Board members then approved the bus routes and bell schedules for the coming year, allowing the superintendent or a designee the flexibility to adjust them if necessary. A revised student drug testing policy was also adopted.
Several policies then received updates as part of a group of NEOLA revisions. These included adjustments to rules on sick leave and severance pay. The changes were made retroactive to June 23 to ensure continuity with state and internal procedures.
Financial items brought forward included approval of monthly bills and reports. The board accepted over $11,000 in donations.
Fulton County Job and Family Services contributed more than $6,000 toward the district’s backpack and feminine hygiene programs and North Star BlueScope Steel provided $5,500 to support the installation of new doors on the baseball press box.
Additional financial actions included the approval of Then and Now certificates for previous software and resource officer expenses, as well as authorization of change funds for athletic and student programs.
Under personnel matters, the board approved a number of staffing changes for the 2025 to 2026 school year.
Among the notable items was the resignation of Trenton Sauber, assistant operations supervisor, effective August 2.
In addition, Mariah Downing was approved for a three-year administrative contract as director of student services. Her term begins August 1 and runs through July 31, 2028.
A resolution was then passed to formally accept the retirements and approve the rehires of Superintendent Troy Armstrong and three long-time educators, Chris Zirkle, Amy Kreiner, and Mark Britsch.
The decision allows each individual to access retirement benefits while continuing in their roles under new contracts for the upcoming year.
Other personnel approvals included classified staff hires and educational aide assignments, internal staff transfers between buildings, and supplemental contracts for coaches and advisors. Volunteer coaching positions were also confirmed.
The board finalized its personnel section by approving a slate of boys’ basketball camp coaches, who will be compensated through proceeds from the camp program.
Following those items the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting of the Wauseon Board of Education is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12 at 5 p.m. It will be held in the Elementary and Middle School cafetorium.