By: Amy Wendt
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
amy@thevillagereporter.com
The Archbold Board of Education met for its regular board meeting on November 10, 2025.
Following roll call and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, the board approved the agenda. The meeting also served as a Public Hearing for the proposed 2026-2027 School Calendar.
In her report, Elementary Principal Andrea Thiel recognized October Bluestreaks Best (Students of the Month) for displaying the character trait of “responsibility” and noted those students were treated to a pizza party to celebrate their achievement.
Those who received the honor were Kindergarteners Olivia Ross, Lillian Marihugh, Dietrich Beck, Madeline Gray, Ezekiel Stiriz, and McKinsley Ward; First Graders Tyce Trowbridge, Cora Williams, Reagan McCalla, Josie Hammersmith, and Ellie Spotts; Second Graders Nova Jagielski, Brenex Baden, Penny Nafziger, and Claira Layton; Third Graders Teagan Rufenacht, Abram Storrer, Leah Krueger, and Avery Storrer; Fourth Graders Emerson Ward, Isaac Grieser, Dominik Keezer, and Remi Dominique; and Specials honorees Jasmine Gibson, Tatum Short, Baden Ruffer, Clara Emch, and Michael Rossi.
Students also welcomed parents and grandparents to the annual elementary school costume parade on October 31, with the AHS marching band providing music.
The days leading up to holiday break will be full of activity for students and staff alike, with a Thanksgiving Feast on November 21, and the Fulton County Christmas Cheer Canned Food Fundraiser during the week of November 17 through 21.
In December, third-graders look forward to a field trip to see the Toledo Walleyes, and on December 4, 5, and 12, various grades will be treated to PBIS Reward trips.
On Thursday, December 11, at 7:00 p.m., the second-grade class will present its annual Christmas Program.
Middle School Principal Matthew Shields’ report listed the students chosen as Bluestreak Leaders for demonstrating exceptional character in October.
Those named Bluestreak Leaders were fifth graders Alejandro Jaramillo, Kadie Osterland, Noah Babcock, and Willa Smith; sixth graders Makenzie Marihugh, Max Burkholder, Mya Nafziger, and Quinton Quintanilla; seventh graders Carson Baden, Carson Stuckey, Emmanuel Huaca-Secue, and Lilli Dominique; and eighth graders Audree Plassman, Dawson Martz, Shawn Aliff, and Zoey Sauder.
The AMS Student Council hosted its first annual Halloween Glow Party fall dance, which was successful.
The Fulton County Prosecutor, Sheriff’s Office, and Probation Department shared with sixth-grade students a presentation about the dangers and legal ramifications of youth social media use. Eighth-grade students toured the Four County Career Center on November 6.
Nine AMS students were selected to collaborate with peers in a clinic session at the All-County concert, and practices are underway for winter sports teams, including Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball and Boys Wrestling. Archery practice will begin for seventh-grade through senior students on December 1.
Principal Royal Short noted in the High School Report that the music department has been busy with the fall play, “It Happened on Route 66,” and the AHS Company vocal group will be performing at several events in the community.
Sixteen students represented AHS at the All-County Honors Choir in Swanton: Matthew Barnhart, Reece Bunke, Michael Funnell, Bo King, Estella Martin, Gavin Miller, Janae Murillo, Adelynn Nafziger, Willa Ruffer, Molly Rutledge, Tessa Seibert, Garrett Stamm, Joel Ward, Levi Ward, Luke Ward, and Jadelynn Whitacre.
Short also congratulated the following students who earned recognition as NWOAL Fall Scholar Athletes. In volleyball, the honorees were Emma Krukowski, Charlee Forward, Autumn Benecke, and Miley Gericke.
In cross country, Avery Roth, Jaden Osterland, Makena Thiel, Sam Bentz, Eliza Bacik, Curtis Springer, Jace Beck, Nicholas Fry, and Lars Soles were recognized.
In golf, Lars Soles, Elsie Mello, and Brooklyn Rodríguez earned the distinction. In tennis, the honorees were Irelyn Hug, Jade Whitacre, and Remi Ryan.
In soccer, Lydia Frey, Mauricio Gaona, Uriel Cortez, and Kevin Alcazar were recognized. Football players receiving the honor were Ashton Stuckey, Jason Grime, and Landon Wanless.
Quiz Team practice has started and will begin its regular season in early January. Mr. Sell and 24 students attended the Annual FFA Convention in Indianapolis, where graduates Callie Nafziger, Rayne Kinsman, and Baylee Lumbrezer received their American Degrees.
Yellow Ribbon Week, the suicide prevention and mental health awareness week, began with an assembly, and Short Funeral Home and Grisier Funeral Home donated “Okay to Not Be OK” t-shirts for every high school student.
The Yellow Ribbon Week fundraising bake sale brought in $4,549 for the Four County Suicide Prevention Coalition. Many students will be lending a hand with the upcoming Fulton County Christmas Cheer.
FFA will be hosting a canned food drive for all school buildings, and both FFA and AHS Impact are set to volunteer at the Christmas Cheer event hosted at Fulton County Fairgrounds, as in past years.
In other community service initiatives, AHS Impact will be setting up displays for the Festival of Lights Parade and assisting with arts and crafts at Fairlawn Haven.
Upcoming high school events include a visit to Archbold Rotary by The Company music group on December 5 and a Choir Concert on December 7.
Michele Bagrowski, Curriculum Director for the district, shared information about the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment and High School Fall OST Re-testing in her report.
She also noted that the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center has recently developed ROOTS, a new website that organizes and analyzes state student testing data in one location. Once launched, staff will review the data to help guide instruction and support student success.
In Superintendent Jayson Selgo’s report, he congratulated Gina Benecke and Skeat Hug on their re-election, as well as retired district treasurer Chris Ziegler, who was also elected and will join the board in January.
Selgo pointed out that the Calendar Committee will be recommending the “Alternative Calendar” for board approval after it received 74% votes in favor by district employees.
Treasurer Joyce Kinsman submitted the October financial report detailing the status of all district funds as of the 31st. The report highlights total revenues and other financing sources at $5,995,887, while total expenditures and other financing uses are $5,250,916 with an excess of revenues over expenditures of $744,971.
An initial cash balance on July 1 was $4,303,905, and the district now has a cash balance of $5,048,876 as of October 31.
The board then addressed the Consensus Agenda, which contained the following items:
-Approved minutes from October 20, 2025, Regular Meeting and October 22, 2025, Special Work Session Meeting.
-Approved October 2025 Financial Reports.
-$4,249.00 in donations, including $800.00 from Fulton County Pork Producers to FFA and $950.00 from Archbold Athletic Boosters to Athletic Department.
-Approved various appropriation modifications and estimated resource changes.
-Approved the Annual Food and Beverage Standards report.
-Approved a resolution to adopt special education model policies and procedures – V1.0 2025.
-Approved recognition of the Bluestreak Touchdown Club and Archbold Band Boosters as District-Support Organizations.
-Approved the paraprofessional substitute list provided by the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center for the 2025-2026 school year as presented.
-Approved Ryan Nafziger as a Substitute Bus Driver and Classified Substitute for the 2025-2026 school year, pending all requirements and certifications are successfully met pursuant to board policy.
-Approved 43 hours of work completed for Josh Voll as a Technology Assistant during Summer 2025.
-Approved Joel Ruffer and Heather Ruffer as volunteer coaches for archery for the 2025-2026 school year.
-Approved one-year supplemental contracts for Sarah Dominique (Softball Head Coach), Rachel Kinsman (Track Head Coach), James Kidder (Tennis Boys Head Coach), Jen Throne (Winter Concessions 50%), and Jessica Short (Winter Concessions 50%) for the 2025-2026 school year:
-Approved the substitute teacher list provided by the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center for the 2025-2026 school year as presented.
The Archbold Board of Education will hold a public Financial Work Session on December 10 at 7:00 p.m., and its next regular board meeting is set for December 15 at 5:00 p.m.
Both meetings will take place in the Archbold High School Media Center.