PHOTO PROVIDED / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
AWARD … Jan Busdecker of the Ohio School Boards Association presents Evergreen Board of Education President Nora Kiefer with a Ten-Year Veteran School Board Member Award during the board’s February meeting.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Evergreen Board of Education held its meeting on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The board first approved the minutes from the Organizational and Regular Board meetings held January 12, along with the Special Board meeting held January 22.
With those items approved, the meeting moved into recognitions and presentations. These portions of the meeting focused on board service recognition and district partnerships.
Jan Busdecker of the Ohio School Boards Association addressed the board and presented Nora Kiefer with a Ten-Year Veteran Board Member Award.
The award recognized Kiefer’s decade of service and ongoing commitment to Evergreen Local Schools. Following the presentation, Elizabeth O’Connell and Angie LaPlante from The Nutrition Group introduced themselves to board members.
They discussed the company’s role within the district and provided an overview of the products and services currently being provided.
The board then approved the January 2026 financial reports, including the cash reconciliation, financial summary, cash summary, and disbursement summary.
Several donations were accepted during the meeting, beginning with $100 from an anonymous donor and $500 from the Knights of Columbus for the Student Assistance Fund.
Additional donations were approved in support of Evergreen’s FFA program for the Next Generation Conference. Those donations were received from Selking International, Holland Farms, Berkey Farm Center, Robert Nash, Rettle Farms, Bill Elvey, Anne Bast, the Fulton County Dairy Association, Anthony Zook, and Valorie Yeary.
Board members also approved fund to fund transfers, appropriation modifications, and amended resources as part of routine financial adjustments.
Grant funding was accepted, including $765.80 in Title I funds, a School Safety Grant totaling $5,026.85, and Career Awareness funding of $3,188.14.
The board further accepted the tax rates and amounts determined by the Fulton County Budget Commission, and authorization was given to certify the necessary levies to the Fulton County Auditor.
Next, the district’s financial forecast was approved for submission to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce by February 28, 2026.
Several personnel actions followed, including acceptance of the resignation of bus driver Rita Brand effective February 4, 2026.
The board also accepted the resignation of reading specialist Diane Pickering for the purpose of retirement effective May 29, 2026.
In addition, the employment contract of library aide Marcene Smith was terminated effective February 17, 2026. A supplemental contract was approved for Ethan VanLoocke as junior varsity baseball coach for the 2025 to 2026 season.
Rita Brand was also added to the district substitute list for cafeteria and custodian positions. The board then approved the granting of Evergreen High School diplomas to Corbin Goodlet, Madelynn Heuerman, and Jacob Lorenzen after confirmation that all graduation requirements had been met.
Membership in the Ohio High School Athletic Association was also authorized for Evergreen High School and Evergreen Middle School for the 2026 to 2027 school year.
During discussion, the board reviewed elements of the district’s strategic plan with a focus on academic programming and career preparation.
Administrative and supervisory reports were provided by principals, Technology Director Tony Doble, and Superintendent Eric Smola.
Smola noted that the district has experienced nine weather-related closings so far during the 2025 to 2026 school year, which may require seniors to attend additional days to meet state-required instructional hours.
He also addressed a restroom wall message discovered earlier that day at the high school, stating that emergency procedures were followed, no threat was found, and normal operations resumed.
With no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting of the Evergreen Local Board of Education is scheduled for March 23, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.
