PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN/ THE VILLAGE REPORTER
GOLDEN BEAR SPORTS NETWORK … The Bryan Board of Education heard a presentation at its board meeting on Monday, September 15, of the Golden Bear Sports Network regarding equipment use. Front row from left are school board members, Dustin Schlachter, Deb Opdycke, Media and Communications Director Chris Malanga, school board members Ben Camarillo, Lynn Wieland, and Caleb Turnbull. Standing from the left are GBSN student workers, Monica Maynez, Wesley Lupo, and Lilly Walker.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan Board of Education heard a presentation about the Golden Bears Sports Network at its board meeting on Monday, September 15, at Mose Isaac Field House.
All board members were in attendance: Ben Camarillo, Deb Opdycke, Dustin Schlachter, Caleb Turnbull, and Lynn Wieland. Roll call was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chris Malanga, who is the media and communications director for the school district, spoke about the sports network with high school students getting involved in producing and broadcasting school-related programs, including athletics, high school graduation ceremonies, and band and choir concerts.
Malanga, along with three BHS students, Wesley Lupo, Lilly Walker, and Monica Maynez, spoke to board members about their own experiences with the network.
“There are about 20 students from grades 8 through 12 who are involved with GBSN,” said Malanga. Last year, the network broadcast 46 sporting events and 90 total events district wide.
“So, you think of the school year being 180 days, that’s one out of two days of broadcasts,” Malanga said. “It’s a busy time, and we’ve done all sorts of different sports. In the fall right now, we’re going between football, volleyball, boys’ soccer, girls’ soccer, those are the ones we cover that are the easiest.”
In the winter, the sports network will broadcast boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys and girls swimming and wrestling and in the spring, they will do baseball and softball.
“There’s a lot that we do broadcasting events, and it’s all student-led,” Malanga told board members. “We don’t do what we do without these kids. They have come so far and are learning a lot.”
Board members went outside to the fieldhouse parking lot and then got a first-hand look at the network’s newest piece of technology, a Dodge Sprinter van from WOSN (West Ohio Sports Network) out of Lima filled with the newest equipment necessary to broadcast outdoor sporting events.
The board recognized Coleen Smith for being chosen for the Benedict Outstanding Educator Award recently at the Academic Boosters Club breakfast. The award is a recognition each year in memory of Greg Benedict.
It’s sponsored by the Benedict family in partnership with the Bryan Area Foundation and honors educators who demonstrate excellence in teaching and character. Smith, who is an intervention specialist at Bryan Middle School, thanked the board.
“I received a lot of messages and words of encouragement,” said Smith. “I still feel that I stood there on Friday and receiving that award, and I appreciated it on behalf of every great teacher or staff member that we have in our district.”
Elementary principal Amy Dominique reported the school year is off and running. She highlighted that diagnostic testing is completed in the first round for grades K-5.
She also commented that the PTO fundraiser kickoff assembly was held on September 10. The PTO will sponsor the “Day of Awesomeness” set for October 15.
Middle School Principal Brian Arnold reported the National Honor Society induction will take place on Sunday, September 21.
The high school will host its Homecoming week from September 29 through October 4, with various activities being held during the week.
Assistant Superintendent Chad Bassett reported that the Purple Star designation for Bryan Elementary School is set to expire, and they will try to obtain that again. The designation honors schools that provide dedicated programs and support military-connected families.
CFO/Treasurer Kevin Schafer updated the board about the upcoming three-year financial forecast which is due on October 15.
In other financial matters, the board approved permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2026 and a change order pertaining to the middle school/high school building expansion project at an additional cost of $4,714.60 for overcurrent protection to the site.
The board approved the Welcome Home Scholarship Fund agreement authorizing the district to remit $11,000 from the Class of 2024 and Class of 2025 funds, collectively, to the Bryan Area Foundation.
“This idea was initiated by the Class of 2025 officers,” said Schafer. “It was their request that we make a gift from their remaining class funds to the Bryan Area Foundation to do a Welcome Home scholarship.
“This will entice Bryan graduates to return to Bryan. It will be monies that are available to a Bryan graduate who’s not currently living in Bryan who agrees to return to our community to live and work here.”
A transfer of funds was approved from the General Fund to the Food Service fund up to $600,000 as necessary before the end of the fiscal year.
“We’re hopeful the $600,000 will cover the amount not reimbursed by the federal government in the program this year,” said Schafer.
The board approved tuition rates for the 2025-26 school year as set by the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce. In-state tuition is $8,637.55, and out-of-state tuition is $14,701.31.
Donations were accepted from the Bryan Academic Boosters of $300 to the Academic League, $1,000 to the high school principal’s fund for homecoming activities, and from Parkview Health of $15,000 towards school-based mental health programs.
Superintendent Mark Rairigh updated the board on construction progress on the high school/middle school expansion project for the career tech center, along with the gymnasium and weight room.
He noted the work is continuing to install a roof over the career tech and lobby side on the west side of the new addition and that will continue until next week.
Concrete will be poured in the weight room next week, and eventually, the gymnasium floor will be poured in the coming weeks.
Rairigh added that starting in early October, pending there are no changes, pre-engineered steel will be erected as well as roofing work on the weight room and gymnasium side of the building. He is hoping to have the entire building under roof by mid to late November.
The superintendent also updated the pending demolition project on the Arts and Education building which is scheduled for January 2026. He said that all belongings inside the building must be cleaned out by December 30, 2025.
An open house for the Arts and Education building is being planned for those who want to visit one more time, with some fun activities involving the use of the gymnasium and auditorium.
An auction for any remaining items in the Arts and Education building is also being organized either in January or February 2026.
In other action, the board approved the following:
-Matthew Geiger and Adyn Rodeheaver for early graduation in 2026.
-Membership in the Coalition of Ohio Rural and Appalachian Schools.
-Memorandum of Understanding for partnership in the Career Navigation Program.
-Alexander Schlosser from second shift custodian (8 hours) to Head of Grounds Custodian (8 hours) effective August 20, 2025.
-Benjamin Wieland as new bus driver, 3.5 hours per day, 0 years of experience, effective August 31, 2025.
-Christina Waugh as new second shift custodian, 8 hours per day, 0 years of experience, effective August 12, 2025.
-Jacqueline Conrad from 5.75 hours to 4.5 hours per day, effective August 31, 2025.
*Heather Bell from 5.5 hours to 5.75 hours per day, effective August 12, 2025.
-Adjusted salary schedule column change for Alaina Miller who had received her master’s degree effective August 11, 2025.
-Changed the hourly wage schedule for Jaimi Geren, Occupational Therapist Assistant, at $25 per hour effective September 15, 2025.
The board went into executive session to discuss an investigation involving a school employee, with no action taken.
The next Bryan City School Board meeting will be held on Monday, October 13, at 6:00 p.m. at Mose Isaac Field House Conference Room.