PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
STUDENTS SHINE … Gifted Services Coordinator Betsy Zuver (center) with students Elijah Cummins (left) and Ethan Fryman (right), detailing the alien-themed escape room they planned, built, and hosted for elementary students.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
The Bryan Board of Education held its final meeting of 2025 on Monday, December 8. Prior to the 6:00 p.m. meeting, a brief public hearing was held to approve the rehire of Gary Wise for his current position after his retirement, which the board is expected to accept.
With no public or board concerns, the hearing was closed, and the Board meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by President Caleb Turnbull.
First, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, followed by the roll call. All members were in attendance and were as follows: Deb Opdycke, Ben Camarillo, Dustin Schlachter, and Lynn Wieland. Also present were CFO-Treasurer Kevin Schafer, Superintendent Mark Rairigh, and some special guest presenters.
First on the agenda was the approval of the meeting minutes from the meeting on November 10. With no discussion or questions, Wieland motioned, and Camarillo seconded. The motion was passed by all members.
With no public participation planned, the meeting moved into the communications section. Students Elijah Cummins and Ethan Fryman, as well as Gifted Services Coordinator Betsy Zuver, were invited to speak about the recent escape room they created and hosted. Zuver began with a slide show explaining the origins of the project.
Zuver stated, “I am interested in trying to create new challenges and interactions for our gifted populations at Bryan City Schools.”
Starting in January, students began brainstorming. Out of several ideas, the escape room was quickly decided, and the students then attended Escapology in Fort Wayne for reconnaissance.
The escape room was planned by 15 high school students in the Gifted Science and Math Program for elementary students in the gifted program in grades 3-5. The high school students dedicated their own time during academic assistance periods, throughout the summer, and after school, almost every Wednesday for months. The construction alone took two full eight-hour days to complete.
Themed as an alien ship invasion, the challenge included 10 puzzles in order to escape within a 45-minute time frame. In the slides, groups could be seen holding several props in photos celebrating their escape.
Ethan and Elijah then took the stage and explained some major challenges, outside of the planned ones. A major obstacle was planning tasks specifically catered to younger students.
Technical challenges included implementing a door system between the two rooms. Trying to find meeting times and delegate specific tasks for those times was also challenging.
Creative problem-solving became a must. Some challenges, such as a Caesar cipher, were more difficult than anticipated.
When asked about their favorite part, Elijah stated he loved watching the way different students approached puzzles. He enjoyed learning which puzzles went quicker than anticipated and which ones took longer. He described seeing the light bulb moment on their faces when they solved the puzzle.
Ethan stated he enjoyed seeing the whole process start as a simple Google Doc to actual completion.
Opdycke asked how quickly some groups made it through, which was approximately 37 minutes.
Rairigh, Wieland, and Schlachter all commended the students on their teamwork, problem-solving, and collaboration. All expressed how valuable these skills would be in future careers.
Zuver closed by stating that the students who went through the escape room cannot wait to do one of their own.
Rairigh asked if there were any other major projects before retirement. Zuver replied that in the spring, they would be participating in MSILE, Middle School Students Involved in Literary Encounters, which was stopped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was revived last year, and this year, two additional schools, Hicksville and Hilltop, are participating. The events consist of a full day of speakers, interactive activities, and games. The theme this year highlights dreams.
The administrators’ reports were provided to the board in their absence due to the busy holiday season.
Completing the communications section was Camarillo with the Four County report. December 1 enrollment is at 951, a very slight decrease from November at 952. Bryan City Schools account for 106 of those students.
BPA, Business Professional of America, held officer installation for the 2025-2026 leadership team, including three representatives from Bryan.
The junior safety assembly was held on November 7 and presented by Ian Backwood of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Bowling Green post.
The pre-apprenticeship program with Northwest State Community College is off to a strong start. This provides students with early exposure to workforce training and postsecondary pathways.
The cosmetology clinic is open to the public on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., offering supervised student services.
Eighth-grade tours are currently underway, and sophomore visitation days started the previous week.
Also, they will be mailing information to sophomores in December and January within each district, approximately 1600 in total.
Closing out the report, Camarillo provided the upcoming holiday break from December 19 through January 2. The second quarter and first semester will also end on December 19. An open house will be held on January 12 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Before moving to financials, a recommendation to appoint Ben Camarillo to the Four County Career Center Board of Education was made. The three-year term would be the second for Camarillo, who is currently finishing up his first three-year term.
Opdycke made the motion to approve the appointment, followed by a second by Schlachter. All members approved except Camarillo, who abstained.
Schafer followed with a brief report. The monthly financial reports were provided to the board. Amended appropriations for fiscal year 2026 were up by $78,000.
This total consisted of state grants totaling $25,000; St. Patrick’s Auxiliary Service Funds totaling $28,000; and the student activity fund totaling $19,000.
Additionally, two donations were recommended for approval. The Bryan Athletic Boosters donated $1,737 for the weight room, and the Bryan Academic Boosters donated $250 for classroom books.
Wieland motioned to approve the financial report and recommendations. Both Camarillo and Schlachter seconded the motion simultaneously. The motion was passed unanimously.
New business consisted of a motion to set the organizational and regular meeting on January 12, which is required to be scheduled by January 15.
During that meeting, several items will be covered, including: swearing in newly elected board members; electing board officers for 2026; administering the Oath of Office to board officers; establishing the service fund; appointing board committees for 2026; establishing the 2026 meeting schedule; and considering Ohio School Board Association membership.
The motion to set the meeting was made by Schlachter and seconded by Camarillo, with all members approving.
For the above-scheduled meeting, a president pro tem must be appointed to preside. Opdycke nominated current President Turnbull as President pro tempore, which was seconded by Wieland. The motion was passed by all members.
Before moving into his report, Rairigh alerted the board that he had distributed the proposed 2026 meeting dates to review and be approved at the January meeting.
Ongoing business updated two current construction projects. First is an update on the current school expansion project, with the major hurdle being Mother Nature.
With the early onset of snow and frigid temperatures, the goal of getting the roof constructed over the gymnasium and weight room portions has never been more important.
Currently, the career-tech portion of the addition is enclosed and has heat. Camarillo verified that the roof was in place on that portion, which Rairigh confirmed. Schlachter commented on the pictures shared with the board by Rairigh, saying the progress looks good.
The second construction update is on the Arts and Education building project. Rairigh commended what he felt was a highly successful open house. Allowing attendees to reminisce about the past while being excited about the future.
Next is an auction to clear out the final items within the building before demolition begins. Rairigh explained that in order to do the auction, water and power will need to be shut off.
Even some of the pipes will be auctioned. This is the best time to transition into the demolition phase to be completed by Advanced Demolition. A meeting with the company is to take place in the next few days to discuss logistics and start dates.
Rairigh expects a late January or early February date for this auction. The entire project must be completed by June in order to use the grant funds.
Camarillo asked about the auditorium seats, which will be auctioned as well. Opdycke stated that she would keep them posted, as there have been some challenges removing the seats that have been there for almost 100 years.
Before moving on to personnel recommendations, Schlachter inquired about the recent mock crash.
Rairigh stated it went well and really helped to show strengths, weaknesses, inconsistencies, and how well teams worked together across multiple facilities.
A highlight for him was the student actors, who he stated could be in Hollywood. He said all of them took their roles very seriously. It even caught the attention of the construction crew when the life flight landed.
Rairigh continued with multiple personnel recommendations. First up was retirement for Kim Armbruster, paraprofessional, after 21 years.
Two new hires, Lori Moore and Daisy Jack, both paraprofessionals, followed. Student worker Dylan Steele was next, joining the Golden Bear Sports Network/Golden Bears TV.
The next recommendation was a resignation. Previously, Troy Underwood had been approved for Junior High Wrestling; however, the credentials were not received, so the board is now required to approve the resignation.
Athletic volunteers were next with Carter Hoffman and Dameon Wolfe for wrestling. Addendum items included Chad Savage for Junior High Wrestling and the rehire of Ian Moore. All new appointments are pending certifications and background checks.
Last was a retirement for Gary Wise, which had been presented in the public hearing held prior to the meeting.
All the above personnel recommendations were motioned for approval by Opdycke, seconded by Schlachter, and approved by all.
Due to a conflict of interest, one personnel recommendation was voted on separately. Cooper Beltran, as a student hire for the Golden Bears Sports Network/Golden Bears TV, was motioned for approval by Camarillo and seconded by Schlachter. All members approved except for Opdycke, who abstained.
The last item for approval was the second reading of several policy updates. With no questions or discussion, the motion was made by Wieland. Camarillo seconded, and all members approved.
The last point of business was information regarding the organizational meeting scheduled for Monday, January 12.
With no need for an executive session, the motion to adjourn was made by Opdycke and seconded by Schlachter. With all members approving, the meeting was adjourned.