PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BOARD MEETING … Montpelier Board of Education members from left, Dunne Gambler, Nate Rose, and Jennifer Schlosser discuss the fiscal forecast during their board meeting on Tuesday, September 9.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
Montpelier Exempted Village Schools CFO/Treasurer Eric Smeltzer gave an update on the changes being made regarding the fiscal forecast of the school district at its board meeting on Tuesday, September 9.
Smeltzer noted there are a few changes based upon recent legislation concerning the district’s five-year fiscal forecast, which now becomes a three-year fiscal forecast.
“It’s a little different with a few changes since May with new legislation,” said Smeltzer. “The submission is not due until October 15, which is different than it used to be in November.”
He has been working with “Forecast Five”, which is a budgeting and forecasting software company, being used with the district numbers already updated in the system.
“Going forward, we will approve a forecast in August and in February, which was one of the changes they made instead of May and November,” said the treasurer. “Still twice a year, but different times of the year.”
Smeltzer told board members the district is currently in fiscal year 2026, plus three years. The district has to submit a forecast now through 2029 instead of through 2030, like it would have in the past.
“We’re still waiting to see whether or just automatically not include our data for the fifth year,” commented Smeltzer.
“So, what we’re doing now is the current year, which is fiscal 2026, plus three years. It’s very hard to project three, four, or five years from now.”
The treasurer said back in May, when the forecast was approved, the 2029 forecast showed the district was going to have a cash balance of $337,706, but now it shows a new cash balance of $3,221,000, which is a huge difference.
“That was the fifth year forecasted in May,” said Smeltzer. “Now, you take out the fifth year currently in 2030, we’re looking at a $809,000 balance, so it’s trending in the right direction. This is something we have to monitor and pay close attention.”
Superintendent Travis Lichty reported the student enrollment for the 2025-26 year was 806 students, which is 28 students higher than last year.
He also reported that PaySchool has been installed in the food service department, enabling parents to make online deposits into their child’s lunch accounts.
The district will be getting quotes for the purchase of a new school bus using monies out of the permanent improvement fund. Lichty said the district didn’t purchase a school bus last year.
High School Principal Su Thorp updated the board that she has dealt with fewer than five cellphone issues so far since the district implemented a cellphone ban.
“They may not like it, but they are doing what’s being asked of them in keeping cell phones in their lockers and out of their hands. It’s a good thing,” said Thorp.
She also reported that Michelle Leatherman, who is the new curriculum director with Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center, spoke at the school’s in-service day program on Tuesday.
Thorp mentioned several upcoming high school events, including the homecoming game with Ottawa Hills and dance on October 3-4; the Trades, Skills, and Robotics Class attending a job fair on October 3; and the school musical, “Nunsense” to be presented on Saturday and Sunday, November 1-2.
Also, picture retakes are set for October 7; the end of the first nine weeks is October 17; and Parent-Teacher Conferences are on October 23-24.
In personnel action, the board approved the following:
CERTIFICATED STAFF
-Approved FMLA leave request for Kayla Hinkle from January 5, 2026, to April 8, 2026, followed by unpaid parental leave from April 9, 2026, to May 29, 2026.
-Approved Summer Spurgeon to attend Orton-Gillingham training at $21 per hour, not to exceed 30 hours, with a time sheet to be submitted for the 2025-26 school year. She was also approved for a PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention Support) stipend of $250 for the 25-26 school year.
CLASSIFIED STAFF
-Approved Amy Riggenbach for an unpaid leave of absence from October 15, 2025, to December 19, 2025.
-Approved Jennifer Spangler for CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) training for the 2025-26 school year; time sheet to be submitted not to exceed eight hours.
-Added Kayla Byers, Lacy Stull, and Phyllis Johnson to the substitute aide list for the 2025-26 school year.
-Added Jordan Birdsall and Mary Weirich to the substitute cook list for the 2025-26 school year.
-Approved Jordan Birdsall, Toby Hutchison, Charles Moore, and Troy Riggenbach as seasonal groundskeepers for the 2025-26 school year, pending that all requirements have been met.
The board approved a service agreement with the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center for Roots Analysis Services at a cost of $3,500.
B&G Lawn Care and Snow Removal, LLC, was approved for lawn services to the football field and baseball/softball fields at Superior Athletic Complex for the 2025-26 school year at a cost of $3,775.
Donations were accepted from Don Tokarz Family (Girls Basketball, $180); Taylor Auten, Equitable (General Fund, $250); First Club (Volleyball $685); Class of 2026 (Post Prom $3,136.97); Miller’s New Market Gas Proceeds (High school principal fund, $3,480.25); and Montpelier Athletic Boosters— (Football, $3,250), (Cheerleading, $1,300), (Cross Country, $800), Volleyball ($2,250), (Boys Golf, $750), and (Girls Golf, $350).
A transfer of $30,000 was approved from the general fund to the cafeteria fund. Permanent Appropriations were also approved, totaling $17,684,163.63 for fiscal year 2026.