PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
HONORING DEPARTING BOARD MEMBERS … From left departing board member Bill Swank, Superintendent Ben Wilhelm, departing board member Amanda Giesige, and Board President Robert Siebenaler.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
On December 15, the Edgerton Board of Education held its final meeting of 2025. Called to order at 6:00 p.m., President Robert Siebenaler led the Pledge of Allegiance. Treasurer Bill Blakely took roll call.
All members were present, including Lyn Bowsher, Amanda Giesige, Nick Hug, and Bill Swank. Principals Lucas Smith, Brett Grieser, and Superintendent Ben Wilhelm were also present.
The first item for approval was the meeting agenda. Swank motioned to approve the agenda with Giesige seconding.
The second item was the approval of the previous meeting minutes, which was motioned by Bowsher and seconded by Hug. Both items were approved by all members.
With no public participation, the agenda moved into the treasurer’s report and recommendations. Blakely provided several documents to the board to support his report.
First was the general fund report, which showed revenues were up over expenditures at approximately $624,000. A large portion of that, $338,000, was due to an increase in property tax revenue and state funding. Blakely anticipates this revenue will slowly decline back to last year’s levels.
Expenditures were also up, primarily due to payroll increases and purchased services. A decrease was seen in supplies and materials.
Blakely explained a new item he included: a graph comparing the month-to-date and year-to-date totals of actual versus planned appropriations. Blakely went over several graphs showing revenue was slightly up month- and year-to-date. Expenditures were generally consistent between actual versus planned.
The food service financial report followed. Cash balance was up over last year at $202,000 compared to $193,000. $5,700 was gained in November.
Lunch participation has remained steady at around 76%; however, breakfast has increased by 5% from last year to almost 35%.
A large expenditure is expected for a recent repair to the walk-in cooler. Initially, a compressor had gone bad, but upon further inspection and repair, a leak was also detected. Although it is now completely repaired, the invoice has not yet been received.
Hug asked if any food was lost during this incident, to which Blakely responded that thankfully, it was caught quickly, and no food was lost.
Swank asked about the other compressors. Blakely anticipates more repairs will be needed in the near future due to the age of the equipment.
With no further questions, Blakely moved into the forecast changes. Due to an unknown error, enrollment numbers from the state were lower than expected.
When Giesige asked him to expand, Blakely provided further details on the situation. The state made a payment, and in the early November payment, enrollment numbers were less than expected.
The second payment was significantly less, by over one hundred. After verifying the data supplied to the state, Blakely was not sure what caused the discrepancy but was able to confirm the difference was rectified in the December payment.
Blakely also warned that four bills related to property taxes are currently at the state level, waiting for the governor’s signature. He does anticipate an impact; however, he does not know the extent. Some items may be vetoed.
The state audit is also starting. Siebenaler asked if this was earlier than normal. Bowsher commented that it usually takes place in February or March, which Blakely confirmed.
He also shared that the last auditor had accepted a treasurer position at Stryker, and Blakely will be mentoring him.
Moving on to recommendations, the first was to approve financial reports, bills for payment, appropriation and estimated resource modifications for the month of November, and the following investments:
Star Ohio with $3,513,216.19 at a rate of 4.23%; Red Tree with $3,305,458.36 at a rate of 4.20%; Wes Banco Money Market with $443,825.13 at a rate of 4.26%; State Bank CD with $232,447.04 at a rate of 3.95%; and Hicksville Bank CD with $870,673.22 at a rate of 4.10%.
The second recommendation was the approval of staff appreciation gifts and meals throughout the year. Blakely added that he was trying to get this recommendation onto the agenda at the start of the school year.
The motion to approve both recommendations was made by Bowsher and seconded by Swank. The motion passed unanimously.
Siebenaler thanked Blakely, then presented Superintendent Wilhelm to administer the superintendent’s report. The first few items were provided electronically to the board: the enrollment update, the Four County Career Center meeting minutes, and the Ohio School Council statement of savings for fiscal year 2024 and 2025.
Wilhelm explained that the enrollment numbers were generally consistent with past years, commenting that they were trending upward. He also provided the savings figure of $2,600 since joining the Ohio Schools Council.
Wilhelm provided a brief update on the bus barn, including the completion of the first layer of pavement.
This made it easier for snow removal and provided parking at the wrestling room. The building frame, siding, roof, and doors are nearly complete.
Commendations were next, starting with the annual FCA Operation Christmas Child shoe box donation. This year, 184 shoe boxes were collected. The program collects donations of toys, school supplies, and hygiene products to fill shoe boxes and deliver to children in need worldwide.
The second commendation was the Bowl-a-thon hosted by NHS, which donated $2,358 to the local Angel Tree.
Presented to the board were the proposed dates for the 2026 meetings. Customarily held on the second Monday of the month, there are a few dates that Wilhelm is anticipating will need to be changed.
One conflict is February 16 (President’s Day), potentially moving to Tuesday, February 17. June 15 also presents a conflict because a few members will be absent, and it will possibly be rescheduled to June 29. This would also be more ideal for the treasurer.
Two final conflicts were November 16, which conflicts with the Capital Conference (possibly moving up to November 9), and December 21, which is likely during Christmas break.
December 14 is the proposed reschedule date. The dates will be voted on at the January 12 organizational meeting.
The last item before the recommendations was the recognition of two departing board members, Amanda Giesige and Bill Swank.
Wilhelm presented them with a small gift and expressed enormous gratitude for their service to the board. Many board members echoed his appreciation.
Wilhelm then continued with his administrative and personnel recommendations. First was the appointment of Robert Siebenaler as president pro tempore for the January 12 organizational meeting.
Second was the approval of an overnight trip for the wrestling team and coaches to the Toledo Woodmore Invite on January 9 and 10, 2026.
Third was to approve indoor track for the winter season and Jason Zumbaugh as a volunteer coach.
Personnel recommendations followed with the approval of the 2025-2026 supplemental contract of Tom Nye as elementary wrestling coach and Tylor Hartman as girls varsity assistant wrestling coach.
The final item was the approval of volunteer Scottie Krontz for Junior High Boys Basketball.
Giesige moved to approve all of the superintendent’s recommendations, and Hug seconded. The motion was passed by all members.
Elementary Principal Lucas Smith presented the board with an update and several photos of recent elementary activities.
The Bulldog Best assembly was highlighted first, then the recent NED (Never give up, Encourage others, Do your best) presentation. A yo-yo demonstration helped illustrate traits such as resilience. Etiquette training has begun for grades 4-6. The recent Santa Shop was a huge success, unfortunately running out of several items toward the end.
He continued with the recent success of the winter concert and gave special thanks to teachers Zoe Scott and Alicia Krill. Smith also highlighted a recent project by Miss Jordan Bok’s third-grade class, where they are trying to get letters from every state. A few photos of the recent Mesopotamia project were also provided.
Smith closed with upcoming activities. On Wednesday, grades 4 and 5 will visit the Statehouse, and on Thursday, grades K-6 will enjoy the second-quarter incentive field trip—a movie at the Bryan Theatre.
Lastly, there will be one more Bulldog Best assembly in December, an early release on Friday, December 19, and upon returning in January, the Williams County Spelling Bee will be held.
Principal Grieser then presented the junior-high and high-school report, as well as provided several photos to the board.
The first highlight was the very successful and greatly appreciated Veterans Day program, with band performance, choir performance, and a guest speaker. Also successful was the fall blood drive, which collected enough units to save 117 lives.
Recently, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, in coordination with the Williams County Board of Elections, visited the high school and took students through the entire voting process.
Students got to vote on three separate issues: Best Meal, Best college football team, and a Winter Dance. Grieser stated he received very positive feedback on the students’ behavior and the thoughtful questions they asked.
Grieser also highlighted the Operation Christmas Child shoe box drive, stating that the 184 boxes were a new school record. He also added that student volunteers not only collect donations but also pack the boxes.
The Williams County Commissioners recently held their meeting at Edgerton in the board room, and the meeting was also attended by Mr. Matt Krill’s government class. Representative Hoops also made a recent visit to the school.
Final highlights included winter athletics, FFA fruit sale, recent radio shows with quiz bowl, kindness week, and the high school choir performing at the Toledo Walleye hockey game.
The Speech and Debate team is having an exemplary season, with several members receiving first-place honors and already having one state final qualifier.
Upcoming dates include exams on Wednesday and Thursday. Early release will occur on Friday. The Edgerton Wrestling Invitational will be held on Saturday. The State Route 49 Classic will take place over the holiday break.
Girls basketball will play in Hicksville on December 22 and 23. The boys basketball team will play in Edon on December 29 and 30.
Grieser closed by thanking the departing board members for what is sometimes a thankless job.
Siebenaler commented on Breakfast with a Bulldog, which Grieser stated that there would be one more this school year and plans to continue in the future.
Siebenaler once again thanked the outgoing board members and stated they would be missed. He then asked for a motion to go into executive session with no action expected to follow. Giesige made the motion, and Swank seconded.
With all members approving, the meeting entered into executive session at 6:36 p.m.